The Tramp 1904

John Singer Sargent made *The Tramp* with watercolor, at some point in his career. The beauty here is in the way the light and shadow kind of dance together, right? Look at how Sargent uses these washes of color, the browns and blues, to build up the form. He isn’t trying to hide anything or make it too perfect. The texture, all those layers of watercolor, it's like he’s building up this whole world with just a few strokes. And check out the face, especially around the eyes and beard. The way he suggests the lines and wrinkles, but doesn't get too fussy with the details. The paint is thin, fluid, almost transparent in places, which gives it this airy, ethereal quality. I think of someone like Manet when I see this, in the way both artists are so good at capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, instead of just a picture. Art is not just about showing the thing, it's about creating a conversation.