The Fence 1914

John Singer Sargent created this watercolour, The Fence, at an unknown date. The medium itself – watercolour – is key to the picture's effect. Sargent brilliantly captures the rough texture of the weathered wood. Notice how he uses layering and varied brushstrokes to convey the material qualities, like the weight and solidity of the fence posts. The watery application emphasizes the way wood interacts with the elements, exposed to cycles of wetting and drying. This seemingly humble subject of a fence takes on greater significance when considering labour, class and social context. Fences delineate property lines, subtly highlighting issues of ownership and division of land. Sargent dignifies this vernacular object through the act of painting. Sargent bridges the divide between high art and everyday life, reminding us that beauty and meaning can be found in the mundane and the overlooked.