Lady Meysey Thompson 1901

John Singer Sargent painted Lady Meysey Thompson in oils, and it’s currently held in a private collection. Look at that brushwork! It's so alive, like he’s building her form out of pure energy. It’s not just about capturing a likeness, it’s about the act of seeing and feeling, translated into paint. I mean, check out the folds of her dress, the way the light catches it. You can almost hear the rustle of the fabric, right? And the colours – that muted palette of greens and creams – it's all so carefully considered. You can see how the thick daubs of paint are applied, and how these add texture. That little patch of shadow behind her head? It's just a dark, amorphous shape. But it does so much work. It both defines her form and creates this sense of depth, of mystery. Sargent lets the paint speak for itself. It’s this ongoing dialogue between what's represented and how it's represented. Much like one of Manet's paintings. It’s a conversation, not a lecture.