Portrait of Sir Max Michaelis 1925

John Singer Sargent made this portrait of Sir Max Michaelis using expressive charcoal marks. Imagine the artist and sitter in the same room together. The artist is intensely focused and making bold marks as the image emerges. I wonder what it’s like to sit for a portrait? Sargent captures the man's likeness, but I think he's also trying to evoke a feeling. The charcoal is applied with varying pressure, creating a dynamic surface of light and shadow. See how the dense, scribbled lines around the figure contrast with the blank white of the paper, making the image pop. That strong mustache gives him character, right? I like the implied movement, it feels like he’s about to say something important. You can see his influence in other artists of the time and his legacy lives on through painters working today. We’re all in conversation with one another, sharing ideas and challenging the status quo, and it’s exciting to be a part of that ongoing exchange.