Study of General Louis Botha for ‘General Officers of World War I’ 1920 - 1922

This pencil sketch by renowned American portrait painter John Singer Sargent, created between 1920 and 1922, depicts General Louis Botha, a prominent figure in South African history. The study, likely a preparatory drawing for a larger work titled "General Officers of World War I," captures Botha in military attire, his arms crossed, his gaze direct and resolute. Sargent's characteristic swift and assured lines convey the subject's presence with remarkable economy, showcasing the artist's mastery of portraiture and his ability to capture personality in a single stroke.