← John Singer Sargent

Egyptian Woman

Original title: Egyptian Woman

Artist

John Singer Sargent

Date

1890–91

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

25 1/2 x 21 in. (64.8 x 53.3 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Francis Ormond, 1950

kurzbeschreibung

John Singer Sargent painted an Egyptian woman in 1890–91. She appears in traditional dress with a dark headscarf. The picture is oil on canvas, measuring 64.8 x 53.3 cm.

Description

A dark headscarf frames the woman’s face as she looks straight at the viewer. Brown tones dominate the palette, muted and serious in mood. Subtle contours and shading shape the face and emphasize its features. The background stays brown too, so nothing distracts from the face. The arrangement is central, with no other objects or figures.

Context

This picture was made during a trip to Egypt in 1890–91. It belongs to a series of studies Sargent prepared for a larger mural in the Boston Public Library. Showing an anonymous woman reflects the era’s European fascination with Oriental subjects.

Impact

The woman’s direct gaze and the dark coloring create an atmosphere that feels both close and distant. Because only the face and earthy tones remain, the portrait gains a timeless, reflective quality.

Technique

Oil paint on canvas, applied in detailed brushstrokes that blend smoothly into one another. This achieves lively, realistic facial features and fabric textures.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)