Girl in Spanish Costume 1879 - 1880

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor, "Girl in Spanish Costume," at an unknown date. It's a small but telling work of art. The image is of a young girl dressed in what Sargent imagined was traditional Spanish garb, but it is less a portrait and more a study in exoticism, a popular theme for European and American artists of the late 19th century. Sargent, an American expatriate living in Europe, often depicted scenes from his travels, catering to a market eager for romanticized views of foreign cultures. Spain, with its history and visual traditions, held particular sway in the European imagination. The image presents us with questions about cultural representation. Who has the right to represent whom, and what are the implications of such representations? To understand this work, it's useful to consider the history of Orientalism in art and literature, exploring how the West has historically portrayed the East and other cultures. By delving into these histories, we can better understand the complex interplay of power, representation, and cultural exchange.