A Spanish Madonna c. 1879

John Singer Sargent created this painting, A Spanish Madonna, with oils on canvas. Sargent was known for his deft brushwork. You can see this in the speed and ease with which he modeled the figure. But I find the relationship between labor, class, and consumption very evident. The painting captures the inherent qualities of oil paint. We have thin, diluted washes and thick impasto. Sargent uses these to create the form of the Madonna, imbuing the artwork with cultural significance by depicting a religious icon. The canvas texture is visible through the paint layers. It’s clear that he made use of traditional techniques, with the tools of brush and easel, to engage with established aesthetics of Western painting, and his style aligns with the refined and elevated realm of fine arts. However, the way the painting is made—very quickly, seemingly without labor, but also without careful detail—can give us insights into the wider social issues of production and value at the time. Perhaps Sargent, in his virtuosity, sought to challenge notions of the 'work' involved in art. Through attention to materials, making, and context, we can understand the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.