Thistles
1886
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1886
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see a group of thistles swaying in the wind, painted in oil on canvas. The brushwork is rough, with visible strokes, which gives the painting a lot of energy. This style was new for Sargent at the time, and it shows he was experimenting with different ways to paint. Check out the technique of impasto to learn more about this style.
