Every time I visit Collection Storage, located in the basement of the Visual Arts Center, there is one work I am especially eager to see. In fact, I am so accustomed to seeking out this piece that I can locate it seamlessly, despite the countless works that fill the space. The piece is John Singer Sargent’s Portrait of a Young Girl. Created in 1898, this is one of two works by Sargent in the Collection.
Born in 1856, John Singer Sargent was an American artist known for his prolific body of Realist portraits. These portraits were costly and, therefore, typically depicted wealthy elites. This component of his practice is part of why I find Portrait of a Young Girl so very enthralling: rather than portray such an individual, Sargent has painted a portrait of a child. What’s more, while Sargent’s primary medium was oil paint, he chose watercolor for this particular work.
Sargent’s decision to use watercolor in this work imparts to the piece a distinct softness. This work is also far smaller than most of his portraits in oil paint, which were often nearly lifesize. This work, in contrast, is only ten by about seven inches and is, therefore, portable. Sargent typically painted in watercolor en plein air, which begs the question of if perhaps he selected his medium based on circumstances, especially because he spent much of his time traveling, often in Paris.
Another hypothesis is that Sargent chose watercolor to emphasize the sitter’s age. She wears a bright, blue-green dress with ruffles, emphasizing her youth. Sargent’s portraits are known for revealing to the viewer the individuality and personality of each sitter, and perhaps here he indicates to the viewer that the sitter has a vivacious spirit.
Although the sitter is young, Sargent creates a unique juxtaposition through her pose. She appears poised and polite, sitting up straight with her hands neatly folded. Her chair is proportional to her height, and she dominates the composition. Finally, Sargent depicts her in a three-quarter profile, a typical angle for portraits of noble figures.
Sargent’s signature is located in the upper right corner of the work, while the upper left corner reads “To Lucy.” Sargent seemingly elected to gift this work to the young girl, but her identity remains a question.
– Heidi McGannon ‘26