John Osborne Sargent (1811-1891) 1889

Editor: This is Hermann Schmiechen’s portrait of John Osborne Sargent. It’s quite a stately image, and the book in his hand makes me wonder about the means of his intellectual production. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Note how the artist depicts Sargent with both a book and spectacles. What does the choice of these objects, as opposed to others, tell us about the type of labor that was esteemed at the time? What kind of person could afford the leisure for this form of labor? Editor: So the painting speaks not just to Sargent's status, but also to a system of production that allowed it. Thanks! Curator: Exactly. It highlights the connection between material possessions and intellectual life, prompting us to consider the broader social context.