Artwork
Egyptian Woman
Egyptian Woman is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography relies on the direct depiction of the sitter to convey the work's meaning, focusing on her presence rather than complex allegorical symbols.
The work depicts a woman situated within an Egyptian context, as indicated by the title and subject classification. Created by John Singer Sargent in 1890, the oil painting functions as a portrait that captures a specific female figure associated with Egypt. While the source material identifies the subject simply as a woman and the location as Egypt, the piece serves as a representation of this individual through the lens of Sargent's portraiture.
The iconography relies on the direct depiction of the sitter to convey the work's meaning, focusing on her presence rather than complex allegorical symbols. The painting stands as a visual record of this specific subject, linking the identity of the woman to the geographical setting of Egypt within the late 19th-century artistic tradition.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1890, Egyptian Woman is an oil painting on canvas by John Singer Sargent. The work measures 64.8 cm in height and 53.3 cm in width, classifying it as a portrait. As a piece within the genre of portraiture, the composition focuses on depicting a woman situated in an Egyptian context.
The application of oil paint on a canvas support represents the primary material and technical approach employed by the artist for this specific creation held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Egyptian Woman is an oil-on-canvas portrait by John Singer Sargent, dated to 1890. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. No information is available in the provided sources regarding a commission, prior ownership, intermediate provenance, or the circumstances of its creation.
The work's documented history is limited to its 1890 inception and its present location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting Egyptian Woman, created by John Singer Sargent in 1890, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in oil on canvas, depicts a woman from Egypt and measures 64.8 by 53.3 centimeters. While the current location and institutional ownership are established, the provided records do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any past or present exhibition history for this piece.
Context
John Singer Sargent's 1890 oil portrait Egyptian Woman, held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the artist’s skill in portraiture and his engagement with contemporary Orientalist subjects. The work is classified as a painting and portrait and measures 64.8 × 53.3 cm. Its depiction of an Egyptian woman reflects the period’s fascination with North African attire and exoticism, situating the piece within Sargent’s broader corpus of elite portraiture. Scholarship notes its technical mastery and its role in illustrating the intersection of European portrait tradition with Orientalist imagery.
Overview
John Singer Sargent, an American artist living abroad, created Egyptian Woman in 1896 using oil paint. This portrait depicts a woman from Egypt, reflecting Sargent's extensive travels and interest in diverse subjects beyond his well-known society portraits. The work is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it represents a facet of his global artistic explorations.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Belle Époque and Edwardian-era luxury.
![The Embroideress [Portrait of Mrs. Hitchcock], by Gari Melchers](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/gari-melchers--the-embroideress-portrait-of-mrs-hitchcock--e44bbcc6f725938b-w320.webp)
