Portrait of Elizabeth Nelson Fairchild 1887

John Singer Sargent painted this portrait of Elizabeth Nelson Fairchild using oil paint on canvas. Sargent was known for his virtuoso brushwork, and here you can see how he applied paint in confident strokes. The way he's built up the image from layers of color creates a sense of depth and volume with apparent ease. Note the loose handling of the white dress and collar, the almost casual dabs of paint that somehow resolve into the details of fabric and form. This wasn't actually casual at all, of course. Sargent's bravura technique was the product of years of academic training and constant practice. It's worth remembering that even works that seem effortlessly achieved are usually the result of considerable labor. This is what Sargent was selling: not just an image, but also a demonstration of skill. It allowed affluent people to show off their status, surrounded by symbols of artistic accomplishment. So, the next time you see a painting, don't just look at the image, but also consider the work that went into it.