Miss Wedewood and Miss Sargent Sketching 1908

John Singer Sargent made this painting of two women out sketching, probably on a warm day, given the sunlight and the parasol, and the dappled light under the trees. It makes me think about the act of painting outdoors, trying to capture the light and atmosphere. You can imagine Sargent’s quick, fluid brushstrokes trying to capture the fleeting moment, the way the light hits the leaves, the shadows on their faces. What’s so cool is how you can see him trying to balance detail with a sense of immediacy. The watercolor is applied in thin washes, layering the colors to create depth and luminosity. I love the way the blues and greens blend together to create a sense of coolness and shade. For me, it’s like Sargent is inviting us to share in this intimate moment of artistic exchange, hinting that artists are always in conversation with one another, across time. Painting is all about exchange, inspiring each other’s creativity. It's an ongoing form of embodied expression.