Artwork
Figure in Hammock, Florida
Figure in Hammock, Florida is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The image evokes a sense of leisure and quiet repose, presenting the figure as at ease within the landscape rather than engaged in action.
Figure in Hammock, Florida is a 1917 work by John Singer Sargent that depicts a man resting within a hammock slung between trees. The subject is rendered as a relaxed figure suspended in the natural surroundings of a wooded Florida setting, with the trees framing the hammock and anchoring the composition. The image evokes a sense of leisure and quiet repose, presenting the figure as at ease within the landscape rather than engaged in action.
Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, the work functions as a study of a single human subject integrated into an outdoor environment, emphasizing the interplay between the suspended hammock, the supporting trees, and the resting man at the center of the scene.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where its accession number is recorded as 63.212.1. The work depicts a man resting in a hammock in a wooded Florida setting and dates to 1917, during Sargent's time working in Florida. No reliable early exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
John Singer Sargent's 1917 painting, Figure in Hammock, Florida, captures a serene outdoor scene. This work, now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, depicts a solitary individual resting in a hammock under the shade of tall trees. It reflects the artist's travels and his engagement with subjects beyond his renowned portraiture, offering a glimpse into a tranquil moment.
Technique & Style
Sargent employed an impressionistic approach in Figure in Hammock, Florida, utilizing loose brushstrokes to render the scene. This technique effectively conveys the play of natural light filtering through the leaves and the varied textures of the surrounding foliage. The painting's fresh and airy quality evokes the atmosphere of a peaceful outdoor setting, characteristic of the artist's ability to capture transient visual effects.
Context
John Singer Sargent, an American expatriate artist, was widely recognized for his elegant portraits of Belle Époque and Edwardian society figures. While primarily based in Europe, Sargent frequently traveled, documenting diverse locations through his art. This painting from 1917 emerged from one such journey to Florida, demonstrating his continued exploration of landscape and genre scenes alongside his celebrated portrait commissions.
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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.
