George Frederick McCorquodale 1902

John Singer Sargent made this oil on canvas portrait of George Frederick McCorquodale. See how Sargent's brushstrokes almost dissolve into the background, especially around the edges of McCorquodale’s form. It's like the painting is still in the process of becoming, a snapshot of a moment in time. The color palette is so restrained, mostly dark tones, but then BAM! That bright pop of the mustache. It’s like Sargent is saying, “I know the rules, but I’m also going to break them.” The surface is smooth, but you can sense the layering of paint, the build-up of tones creating depth. Now, look at the way Sargent handled the light on McCorquodale’s face. The highlights and shadows are almost abstract, patches of paint that coalesce into a recognizable form. It reminds me of Manet, in the way he captured the fleeting effects of light. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation, an echo of voices across time.