Egyptian Woman
between 1890 and 1891
John Singer Sargent captured the striking profile of an Egyptian woman during his travels in the early 1890s. Notice how her face is rendered with smooth, almost porcelain-like precision, contrasting sharply with the wild, energetic brushstrokes of her dark veil and that magnificent gold coin necklace. Sargent was a master of capturing light and texture, using thick dabs of yellow and white paint to make the jewelry practically gleam against the shadowy background. It’s a brilliant example of his academic training mixed with a looser, more modern flair that made him the most sought-after portraitist of his day.
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