Study for Madame X 1883

John Singer Sargent sketched this study for Madame X using graphite on paper. The profile is defined by a sweeping, unbroken line, with subtle variations in pressure that articulate form and volume. Sargent’s use of line is economical yet expressive. The strokes are confident, capturing the essence of the sitter's elegant bearing. There's a graphic precision that echoes the linearity of Ingres, but here, line is not just descriptive, it's performative. It creates space, implying depth with minimal shading. What are we to make of this? The drawing can be viewed as a visual signifier, a system of representation in which the line doesn’t merely depict but actively constructs an image of beauty and class. It embodies the structuralist idea of underlying codes that shape our perception of the world. The simplicity of the sketch belies the complex interplay of line, form, and social signification.