Ida Agassiz Higginson 1917

Editor: This charcoal drawing is John Singer Sargent's portrait of Ida Agassiz Higginson. It feels very formal and poised. What strikes you about it? Curator: Sargent, often celebrated for his portraits of the elite, here depicts a woman deeply embedded in social reform and philanthropy. Higginson, a champion of women's education and social justice, offers a counter-narrative to the gilded age. The tight composition reflects her constrained role, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, I see that now. The pearls and severe hairstyle also contribute to that feeling. Curator: Exactly. What would it mean to deconstruct these symbols of bourgeois femininity? We can consider how Higginson used her social standing to challenge the existing power structures. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It really changes how I see the portrait. Curator: It reveals how art can serve as a site to critically examine the sitter's social agency. Editor: Thanks, I'll be sure to bring up that point!