Jane de Glehn, Study for "In the Generalife"

This graphite drawing by John Singer Sargent, a study for his watercolor "In the Generalife," offers a glimpse into the artist's working process and his fascination with light and landscape. Sargent, known as the leading portrait painter of his generation, also produced a vast body of watercolors and sketches throughout his extensive travels. This sketch, created in 1912, captures a moment in the Generalife gardens in Granada, Spain, a place that clearly inspired him. Sargent, an American expatriate artist, spent most of his life in Europe, immersing himself in diverse cultures and landscapes. His ability to capture spontaneous moments, a hallmark of his informal studies and landscape paintings, is evident here. The drawing of Jane de Glehn, an artist and friend, likely served as a foundational element for the larger watercolor, allowing Sargent to explore composition and form before committing to color. It reflects his technical facility and keen observational skills, traits that defined his Impressionistic leanings and his broader artistic output, which included roughly 900 oil paintings and over 2,000 watercolors.