John Singer Sargent
is known as the greatest portrait artist of his era.
What made his ‘swagger’ portraits remarkable was his power over his
sitters, what they wore and how they were presented to the audience.
Through interviews with curators, contemporary fashionistas and s
tyle
influencers, Exhibition on Screen’s film will examine how Sargent’s
unique practice has influenced modern art, culture and fashion.
Filmed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tate Britain, London,
the exhibition reveals Sargent’s power to express distinctive
personalities, power dynamics and gender identities during this
fascinating period of cultural reinvention. Alongside 50 paintings by
Sargent sit stunning items of clothing and accessories worn by his
subjects, drawing the audience into the
artist’s studio. Sargent’s sitters
were often wealthy, their clothes costly, but what happens when you
turn yourself over to the hands of a great artist? The manufacture of
public identity is as controversial and contested today as it was at the
turn of the 20th century, but somehow Sargent’s work transcends the
social noise and captures an alluring truth with each brush stroke.
Step into the glittering world of fashion, scandal and shameless self
–
promotion that made John Singer Sargent the painter who defined an era.
Explore the unique creative process of the late 19th century’s favourite
portrait artist and the way in which his portraits captured the spirit of a
vibrant and rapidly changing age.
“The film is rich and informationally dense, like all Exhibit
ion on Screen’s
work. It carefully situates Sargent’s art in context, explaining key concepts
for newcomers with sufficient wit and insight that others need not worry
about finding themselves bored”.
Eye for Film
Directed by David Bickerstaff
Running time: 90 minutes