Studies of Generals Plumer and Haig for "General Officers of World War I" [recto]

Studies of Generals Plumer and Haig for "General Officers of World War I" [recto], created by John Singer Sargent between 1920 and 1922, is a detailed example of the American artist's preparatory methods late in his career. Executed primarily in charcoal with graphite on laid paper, the drawing captures the likenesses of two crucial military figures from the First World War. This piece belongs to Sargent's final productive period, reflecting the shift in artistic focus from society portraiture to commemorative commissions that defined the years 1901 to 1925.

Sargent utilized the expressive quality of charcoal to quickly capture the distinct features and psychological bearing of Field Marshal Herbert Plumer and Field Marshal Douglas Haig. These studies prioritize structure and shadow over minute detail, establishing the necessary pose and presence for the massive group portrait, General Officers of World War I, which was commissioned by the British government to memorialize the military leadership of the Great War. The application of graphite alongside the charcoal adds subtle definition, particularly to the uniforms and facial structures of the subjects, allowing Sargent to transition the sketches efficiently into the final oil painting.

Though widely known for his sophisticated society portraits, Sargent, an expatriate American, spent his later years concentrating on monumental mural cycles and critical wartime documentation. This drawing is classified as an American drawing and serves as an essential record of his process, demonstrating the rapid yet accurate draftsmanship for which he was revered. By preserving these historical studies, the National Gallery of Art maintains an important record of the preliminary stages of this significant memorial work. As part of a major museum collection, high-resolution prints and images of this work are frequently made available to the public domain for research and scholarly purposes.