Studies for "Gassed"

Studies for "Gassed" is a powerful preparatory drawing created by John Singer Sargent between 1918 and 1919. Classified as an American drawing from the 1901 to 1925 period, this substantial work in charcoal on laid paper directly informed Sargent’s monumental oil painting, Gassed, commissioned by the British Ministry of Information.

The work captures the harrowing aftermath of a mustard gas attack on the Western Front during World War I. Sargent, serving as an official war artist, focused intensely on the human cost of the conflict, particularly the figures of blinded soldiers queuing for medical assistance. The charcoal medium allows for rapid, expressive sketching, emphasizing the weight and exhaustion of the men as they are led across the field. Sargent uses deep, rich tonal values to articulate the forms and define the draped blankets and uniforms of the figures, concentrating light and shadow to heighten the sense of physical distress and disorientation.

Sargent's approach to these preliminary drawings reveals his mastery of figural composition and narrative impact, even in the absence of color. The study is particularly valuable for understanding the evolution of the major painting, documenting the compositional decisions and human types Sargent selected to convey the widespread suffering. As an essential piece of documentation regarding the culture and historical realities faced by American and allied forces in the final years of the war, this piece represents a critical transition in Sargent’s career from high society portraiture to serious history painting.

This piece is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art. While the original resides in the museum, the preparatory nature and historical importance of the study mean that high-quality prints and references are often made available to the public through digital archives, making this vital artwork accessible beyond the museum walls.