Dr. Pozzi at Home 1881

John Singer Sargent painted this portrait of Dr. Pozzi, using oil on canvas. Sargent was a master of conveying the textures of surfaces, and here, the plushness of Pozzi's robe is almost palpable. The sweeping brushstrokes and careful layering of paint give the fabric a rich, velvety depth. The red hue, applied in varying tones, catches the light and creates a sense of movement and life. Consider how the making of this image is inseparable from the social context it reflects: the Industrial Revolution brought innovations in pigment production and the mass manufacture of paint, and it's this availability of materials, combined with Sargent’s skill, that allows him to create such a striking portrait. By drawing attention to the materiality of the painting, we can see how craft and fine art are intertwined, reflecting a shared history of skill, innovation, and aesthetic expression.