Artwork
Two Girls with Parasols
Two Girls with Parasols is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sargent was a prolific painter, creating nearly 900 canvases, and is widely recognized for his portraits of the Belle Époque and Edwardian elite.
John Singer Sargent, an American artist who spent much of his career abroad, completed *Two Girls with Parasols* in 1894 using oil paint. This work, influenced by Impressionism, captures two women in a garden, a common theme of leisure in the late 19th century. Sargent was a prolific painter, creating nearly 900 canvases, and is widely recognized for his portraits of the Belle Époque and Edwardian elite. The painting is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two women standing in a shaded garden, each holding a parasol. One figure carries a dark parasol, while the other holds a lighter one, complementing their light green and white attire. Parasols frequently appeared in late 19th-century art as symbols of outdoor leisure and refined social activities, reflecting the era's growing emphasis on recreational pursuits in natural settings.
Technique & Style
Sargent employed an Impressionistic approach in *Two Girls with Parasols*, utilizing quick brushstrokes to render the leafy background. He applied oil paint thickly in certain areas, a technique known as impasto, which enhances the vibrancy of the colors and adds textural interest. The women's faces are rendered with a soft blur, contributing to an overall ethereal and dreamlike quality in the depiction.
History & Provenance
Created by John Singer Sargent in 1894, *Two Girls with Parasols* represents a period of the artist's extensive output. Following its completion, the painting eventually entered a significant institutional collection. It is currently held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, making it available for public appreciation and scholarly examination within its permanent holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Belle Époque and Edwardian-era luxury.
