Frascati, Architectural Study c. 1907

John Singer Sargent made this architectural study, probably in Italy, with watercolour on paper. It’s really about the light, isn't it? Look how it softens the hard edges, blurring the distinction between inside and out, solid and void. The base of the column on the right has these crisp, rectilinear blocks, rendered in subtly modulated, earthy tones; a masterclass in using transparency to build up form. Then, behind, everything dissolves into soft, atmospheric washes. I love how Sargent lets the white of the paper peek through, giving the piece a sense of lightness and immediacy. It reminds me a little of Cezanne, especially those late watercolours of the landscape around Aix. Both artists are interested in structure, but they are also fascinated by how light and atmosphere can dissolve form. They create their images with an openness to the unpredictable nature of the medium, embracing the possibilities of process. This piece is not just a study of architecture, it’s a study of seeing.