Studies for "Gassed" [recto]

The preparatory sketch, Studies for "Gassed" [recto], was created by John Singer Sargent between 1918 and 1919. This important early work relates directly to Sargent's monumental oil painting, Gassed, a commissioned piece documenting the horrors and aftermath of a mustard gas attack during World War I. Executed in expressive charcoal on laid paper, the classification of the piece as a Drawing highlights Sargent's rapid, observational technique as he worked through the complex, multi-figure composition. The robust, definitive marks demonstrate the urgency with which Sargent sought to resolve the dynamic and tragic arrangement of the wounded men.

The creation of this piece falls within the 1901 to 1925 period, marking a significant stylistic and thematic departure from the society portraiture for which Sargent was primarily known. Serving as an official war artist for the British government, he utilized the immediacy and tonal range of charcoal to capture the emotional weight of the moment. These American studies reveal the artist grappling with the visceral subject matter: lines of blinded soldiers, hands resting on the shoulders of the man ahead, shuffling slowly toward medical assistance. Sargent meticulously delineated the postures and the heavy drapery of the uniforms, focusing the viewer on the soldiers' mutual reliance and silent suffering.

This detailed preparatory work showcases Sargent's mastery of rendering dramatic human form, serving as a crucial link between his battlefield observations and the final realization of the massive oil painting. The finished study is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As an internationally significant work of the early 20th century, images and high-quality prints of this drawing are frequently made available through various public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread scholarly and public access to Sargent’s documentation of the Great War.