Honestly, reading Every Portrait Tells a Lie by Debra Brehmer and How John Singer Sargent made a Scene by Sarah Churchwell interested me a lot more than the previous two articles. I was able to understand more and know a lot more general and personal information about John Singer Sargent.
In “Every Portrait tells a Lie”, Debra states outright that “every portrait tells a story and that story… (tells) a lie”. What one may see on a canvas or in a frame may not be the reality behind it when it was being painted or captured. All portraits, and many photographs, are staged of course. Sometimes, a portrait or a photograph may not represent the actual reality of what one sees.
This is why I like taking and being part of candid photos – they aren’t staged and they capture what really is happening at the moment – good or bad.
But even though Debra states her own opinions about how subjective portraits are because the artist paints what he or she sees in the model, the article praises John Singer Sargent for his mastery in painting portraits and does have many positive things to say about them.
“Portraiture is a sad art. It’s gone but it remains” – Richard Avedon. Portraits capture a moment – whether or staged or not – and remains forever even though the model of a person may pass away. John Singer Sargent has certainly captured a “life” in those paintings and preserved it throughout time.
The “How John Singer Sargent made a Scene” article is very detailed and gives a lot more personal information about Sargent. It contains many quotes from his contemporary colleagues and peers that praise him. For example, Henry James has a lot to say about his best friend Sargent. He praises John Singer for “creating a realistic portrait”.
Even though many people praised John Singer Sargent for his portraits that were a picture of reality, many also criticized him.
For example, when Sargent painted Madame X , many criticized and “objected to Madame Gautreau’s appearance (some complaining at the powder-blue pallor of her skin, others at the depth of her décolletage or the shockingly wanton shoulder strap allowed to fall suggestively loose) or hailed the modernity of Sargent’s technique”
It’s hard to believe that back then, what Sargent painted was considered “modern”. Maybe, in the future, for example, everyone will fully accept Modern Art because some people criticize it as not art at all.
This article also answers some questions that my fellow classmates have asked before – Is John Singer Sargent American or European? Near the end of the article, it says, “Late in life, Sargent declined the honour of knighthood, because he was American” This answers the question – John Singer identifies himself as an American.
This article was very detailed about the personal life of the painter and musician John Singer Sargent that extends beyond his art – such as his alleged affair with one of his models, the questioning of his sexuality, and much more. Before we only knew about John Singer Sargent the painter and his influences in art; now, we know more about John Singer Sargent the person.
After reading your response, I realize and agree that candid photos are the most genuine way to capture a moment. At first, after reading the article, I felt that all pictures were in a way, staged. However, I agree with you where I feel that to sneak a camera and capture a moment of laughter or joy is almost as genuine as being there yourself. However, I suppose that wasn’t so easy during Sargent’s era.
I feel that Sargent did to an exceptional job at capturing life itself, through creating images of simple instances between people and himself. And so I agree with your point on that as well.