Sarah Eliot 1945

Prudence Heward captured Sarah Eliot in oil paint, likely sometime in the early to mid-20th century. Oil paint, traditionally seen as a fine art medium, allows for a depth of color and texture that’s hard to achieve otherwise. Heward lays the paint down with visible strokes, building up the form of Sarah's face, dress and hair. Note the varying directions of the brushwork. In some areas, like the background, the strokes are loose and gestural, while in Sarah’s face they are more controlled to create a sense of volume and detail. This hands-on approach infuses the portrait with a sense of intimacy. It’s worth considering how Heward’s labor, her deliberate application of paint, contributes to the emotional weight of the piece. It transcends mere representation, offering insight into the artist's perception and the sitter’s inner world. By looking closely at how it was made, we can appreciate how the artwork challenges traditional hierarchies between fine art and other forms of creative production.