John Singer Sargent transformed watercolor painting with bold strokes and loosely defined forms, breaking from traditional techniques. Critics called his works “swagger” watercolors, but for Sargent, the medium represented creative freedom and personal expression. His two major U.S. exhibitions, in 1909 and 1912, were acquired in full by the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
John Singer Sargent Watercolors reunites nearly 100 pieces from these collections, exploring themes like sunlight on stone and patterns of light and shadow. Featuring 175 color reproductions, this publication celebrates Sargent’s mastery. Known for his dramatic portraits, Sargent also excelled in landscapes and watercolors, capturing vivid motifs during travels to Venice, Tuscany, the Alps, and beyond.