Studies for "Shoeing Calvary Horses at the Front" [recto]

Studies for "Shoeing Calvary Horses at the Front" [recto], created by John Singer Sargent in 1918, is a powerful example of the artist's commitment to documenting military life during the First World War. Executed in graphite on wove paper, this detailed drawing captures the intense physical labor and necessary logistics of maintaining cavalry operations near conflict zones. The piece falls squarely within the 1901 to 1925 period, during which Sargent served as an official war artist for the British government, tasked with documenting the Western Front.

As a preliminary study, Sargent focuses meticulously on the anatomy and posture of the horses and the farriers who attend them. Such detailed observation was essential for the final execution of the larger, ambitious oil painting, which, while initially intended to depict the shoeing of horses, ultimately transitioned in subject matter to reflect the horrors of chemical warfare, becoming the iconic work, Gassed. Nevertheless, the preparatory work for cavalry logistics was critical to the American artist’s understanding of frontline operations and military routine.

Sargent’s technique utilizes rapid, authoritative lines characteristic of his masterful drawing style, revealing his ability to capture dynamic movement and immediate presence, even under difficult wartime conditions. This intimate study offers unique insight into the artistic process of an internationally recognized figure who pivoted late in his career from portraiture to historical documentation. Classified simply as a drawing, the work is a vital historical document that resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of its historical significance and status, high-quality prints and digital reproductions of Sargent's WWI studies are often available through public domain archives, ensuring wider access to this important moment in modern art history.