Portrait of Henry James 1913

John Singer Sargent made this drawing of Henry James with charcoal in 1912. Look at the way Sargent builds the image, layering strokes to construct form; it's a process right there on the page. You can see the push and pull of the medium. The velvety texture of the charcoal is so tangible. I can almost feel the give of the paper as the charcoal meets it. It's thick in the shadows, particularly behind the head, creating a stark contrast that brings James forward, into our space. The marks around the mouth, those subtle lines, they speak volumes about character, about lived experience. It’s not just about likeness; it's about presence. Sargent's approach reminds me a little of Lucien Freud's portrait drawings, that same intensity and focus. Art's a conversation, right? Always echoing, always responding.