I suppose it is natural when thinking of John Singer Sargent for the word “elegance” to pop into one’s head.
But for me, the amazing thing about Sargent has always been his genius for composition, for handling blocks of space.
“A Venetian woman” (1882) is a great example of what makes me sit and stare at so many of Sargent’s paintings. It is almost as if Sargent said to himself: “Hey, I know, I’ll take this simply huge rectangular block of dark space. And I’ll put it into a portrait. And make it like half the portrait. And yet somehow…somehow…I’ll get it all to balance out perfectly.”
And so he does. Amazing.
Also a bit unusual in this one: Hiding the left foot.
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I would not have caught the missing foot if you had not mentioned it.
He creates a wonderful alignment also. Her crimson scarf and fold in her skirt are held in line with the corner of the wall behind her head, as if that is not enough, her head has a subtle tilt left to reinforce this magical divide.
Yes I see what you mean. And isn’t she carrying something? Some material for sewing perhaps?
Looks like a perfectly framed photograph. Very nice!
:up: