Bois de houx, Majorque
1908
John Singer Sargent traded his lucrative portrait studio for the sun-drenched hills of Majorca in 1908, and the result is this explosion of vibrant, untamed nature. Instead of stiff society ladies, he attacked the canvas with energetic, thick brushstrokes to capture the dense, emerald canopy of the holm oak trees. The bottom of the scene is a chaotic jumble of sun-baked rocks in warm pinks and oranges, contrasting sharply with the cool, deep greens above. It’s a rare glimpse into how one of history's most famous portrait painters let loose when no one was paying him to paint a face.
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