Woman with Basket

John Singer Sargent, an artist celebrated for his elegant portraits of the Belle Époque and Edwardian era, created this intimate graphite drawing, "Woman with Basket," in 1875. At just 19 years old, Sargent was already honing the remarkable technical facility that would define his career. He had recently begun his studies in Paris with Carolus-Duran, a progressive teacher who encouraged working directly on the canvas with a loaded brush (the *alla prima* method), a spontaneous approach that influenced Sargent's drawing style as well. This early work, executed on dark buff wove paper, showcases his innate ability to capture form and expression with seemingly effortless strokes. While Sargent would become renowned for his grand oil paintings, his extensive body of sketches and charcoal drawings, like this one, reveals the foundational strength of his draftsmanship and his constant observation of the world around him. This piece offers a glimpse into the formative years of an artist who would later be recognized for his insightful portrayals and a career that spanned continents.