Dorothy 1900

John Singer Sargent captured this unnamed young girl, commonly known as Dorothy, in oils on canvas. Here we see Sargent painting a child, probably sometime in the late 19th century, who comes from the kind of privileged background that would have allowed for such a commission. Her fine white dress and pendant necklace speak of family wealth. Sargent was an expatriate American artist who spent much of his career in Europe, painting portraits of the upper classes. It’s worth noting how his work helped to reinforce existing social hierarchies by creating idealized images of wealth and status. In order to learn more about such relationships, the art historian will often turn to sources outside the image, such as letters, diaries, financial records and institutional archives. The meaning of art is something that is always contingent on its social and institutional context.