Motorcycle

The drawing Motorcycle by John Singer Sargent, completed in 1918, is a highly characteristic study rendered in graphite on wove paper. Though Sargent is most widely celebrated for his grand society portraits executed in oil, his extensive collection of preparatory works and observational sketches often reveals a more private, experimental engagement with varied subject matter. This piece, created during the latter half of the early 20th century, specifically the period defined as 1901 to 1925, exemplifies Sargent’s precise control of line and subtle shading, defining complex mechanical form purely through graphic means.

The year 1918 placed Sargent squarely within the historical context of World War I, during which he served as an official war artist for the British Ministry of Information. While many of his contemporaneous outputs depict wounded soldiers and devastating landscapes, this particular American drawing focuses objectively on modern technology. The motorcycle is rendered with meticulous attention to detail, balancing the light quality inherent to a graphite study with the heavy industrial nature of the machine itself, underscoring its role in changing mobility and military logistics. This interest in the mechanical object reflects the pervasive technological shifts occurring during the war years.

As a document capturing a machine integral to modern life, the work offers insight into Sargent’s broader visual curiosity beyond the portrait studio. The classification of the work as a drawing emphasizes the immediacy and clarity of the artist's observation. Today, this significant piece resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Given the historical importance of the work and the institution's commitment to accessibility, high-resolution reproductions and fine art prints of this drawing are frequently available through public domain initiatives, ensuring the global study of Sargent’s extensive graphic output.