Mrs Reubell Seated In Front Of A Screen c. 1884

Curator: John Singer Sargent created "Mrs Reubell Seated In Front Of A Screen" around 1884. It’s quite evocative. Editor: Yes, I immediately notice the moodiness achieved with watercolor washes. The screen behind her seems to almost swallow her up. There’s a strange tension there between figure and ground. Curator: I think it reveals something about the role of women in society during the late 19th century, portraying the societal constraints on wealthy women of leisure. Editor: Perhaps. I’m more interested in how Sargent uses watercolor to create this sense of ephemerality. Notice how loosely he defines form; the dress is barely there. It calls attention to the artistic process itself, a radical step for portraiture. Curator: The setting is key, too. The screen situates Mrs. Reubell within a controlled, domestic space, reflecting societal expectations for women of her class. It speaks to their prescribed roles. Editor: I agree that the placement does contribute to how the portrait functions. Though to my eye the screen itself looks almost hastily crafted. This raises questions about the value assigned to labor, in what circumstances an object would become deemed "art," and so on. Curator: Sargent walked a fascinating tightrope in his portraiture between tradition and innovation. He produced commercially successful work for wealthy patrons, but his choices pushed aesthetic boundaries. Editor: The translucent quality of the medium almost suggests absence, highlighting that watercolor—unlike oil paint, for example—was often thought of as something for "amateurs" or women doing craftwork. He's deliberately messing with assumptions about taste and hierarchy. Curator: It leaves you pondering the ways people create themselves in tandem with social standards and imposed expectations. Editor: I find it stimulating how Sargent exploits the potential of his materials to deconstruct visual conventions and prompt new ways of seeing both art and society.