Open Doorway, Morocco 1879 - 1880

John Singer Sargent made this painting of an open doorway in Morocco using oil on canvas. Though seemingly traditional, the way Sargent has handled the medium speaks volumes about the changing landscape of artistic production at the time. Notice the thick, almost nonchalant brushstrokes. Sargent’s focus isn’t necessarily on replicating the scene, but on capturing the essence of light and shadow. The roughly textured walls and the worn steps leading up to the door are rendered with a quick, sure hand. This alla prima technique, painting wet-on-wet, suggests an interest in the immediacy of the moment. While the subject might appear timeless, the approach is very much of its era. With industrialization changing all aspects of society, artists like Sargent were looking for ways to capture the fleeting nature of modern life. Here, paint becomes less about representation and more about expression.