Jerusalem 

John Singer Sargent created this watercolor titled Jerusalem, using pigments mixed with water applied in broad washes onto paper. Sargent's adept use of watercolor is clear here; it is a medium that has historically bridged the gap between art and craft. Watercolor's portability lends itself to plein air painting and on-site studies. The way Sargent handles the paint, allowing it to pool and bleed, suggests a confidence in the medium's inherent properties. The texture of the paper is integral to the finished piece; the rough surface catches the pigment, creating a dappled effect that mimics the play of light on the landscape. The fluidity of watercolor, combined with the artist's loose brushwork, evokes a sense of immediacy, reflecting the transient qualities of light and atmosphere. By valuing the material qualities of watercolor and embracing its potential for expressive mark-making, Sargent elevates a medium often relegated to the realm of craft to the status of high art.