Mrs. Charles Hunter 1902

John Singer Sargent drew Mrs. Charles Hunter with charcoal on paper sometime around the turn of the century. Look at the way Sargent teases out form with a flurry of marks. See how the face is more defined, more brought-forward than the fuzzy hat and fur stole? It's like Sargent is saying, 'here's what's important'. It's a performance, a dance of dark and light that brings Mrs. Hunter into being on the page. The very materiality of the charcoal – its smudginess, its ability to create deep blacks and hazy greys – is key to the mood, the impression of elegance and fleeting beauty. That dark patch under her chin? It's not just shadow; it's the anchor that gives her face its delicate glow. This piece reminds me a bit of Whistler’s portraits, with their emphasis on tone and atmosphere, or even Manet’s quick, assured brushstrokes. But Sargent brings his own flair, his own bravura handling of the medium. It's like he’s having a conversation with those artists, riffing on their ideas, and adding his own voice to the mix.