Two Heads

Art Historical Context

"Two Heads" is a delicate graphite drawing on wove paper by John Singer Sargent, created between 1875 and 1880. Measuring just 8 3/8 × 6 3/8 inches, this intimate sketch captures the artist's early mastery during his formative years in Paris, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and under the portraitist Carolus-Duran. At ages 19 to 24, Sargent was honing his skills in observation and line work, laying the groundwork for his later fame as a virtuoso portrait painter blending Realism with Impressionist flair. The use of graphite on smooth wove paper allowed Sargent to achieve subtle tonal variations and precise contours, evident in the dual profiles that suggest a study in anatomy or expression. Such preparatory drawings were vital to his practice, revealing his fascination with the human form before he transitioned to monumental oil portraits of high society. This piece exemplifies his technical precision and spontaneity, hallmarks of his draftsmanship. Now part of the National Gallery of Art's Corcoran Collection, "Two Heads" was generously gifted by Sargent's sisters, Emily and Mrs. Francis Ormond, preserving a personal glimpse into the artist's youth. Visitors will appreciate its quiet elegance, a testament to how Sargent's genius began with humble sketches.

About the Artist

John Singer Sargent · 1856–1925

John Singer Sargent, born on January 12, 1856, in Florence to American expatriate parents FitzWilliam Sargent, an eye surgeon and medical illustrator, and Mary Newbold Singer, an amateur artist, enjoyed a nomadic childhood across Europe. His mother nurtured his artistic inclinations with sketchbooks and museum visits, while he received early watercolor lessons from German landscape painter Carl We...