Conrad and Reine Ormand 1906

John Singer Sargent captured these kids, Conrad and Reine Ormond, in a flurry of brushstrokes and muted tones, like whispers of shadow and light. Imagine Sargent, squinting, dabbing, and flicking the paint, building up these forms from seemingly nothing. I bet he was thinking about Velasquez! See how the paint is thin, almost watery in places, and then thicker around the faces. It’s a total dance of texture, right? I’m also a painter, and I’m jealous of how he captured the fleeting essence of childhood. I feel like I can smell the dusty velvet of their clothes. And look at that bold stroke of red in the girl’s hair, it’s so small but so intense. It draws you in! Sargent was part of a long conversation of painters, each trying to wrestle with the question of how to capture life on a flat surface. Painting isn't just about what you see but how you feel. It's this messy, intuitive, and deeply human thing.