Thistles
John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925)
1883–89
View the original$16
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Materials & printing
Archival matte paper, 189 g/m² (10.3 mil), sourced from Japan, printed with multicolor water-based inkjet so every brushstroke stays crisp. Framed prints arrive ready to hang in a .75″ ayous-wood frame with an acrylite front.
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Why is it this affordable?
A flat 20% margin — just enough to keep the store running. We only sell sizes that reproduce at full quality, and we don’t mark up the large sizes the way most shops do.
About this work
Thistles captures the tangled movement of the windblown plants in light and shadow. Executing this work in rural England (or possibly in Nice, France), John Singer Sargent experimented with broken brushwork and a vibrant palette. The landscape composition is remarkably abstract, and the dynamic patterning of the thistles asserts the flatness of the picture plane rather than a sense of depth.
Beginning in 1885, Sargent spent more time painting out of doors, exploring the techniques and subjects of Impressionism, inspired by a growing friendship with Claude Monet. He continued painting en plein air throughout his life, a practice that provided needed respite from his busy schedule as an acclaimed portraitist.
- Artist
- John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925)
- Date
- 1883–89
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Origin
- England
- Style
- Impressionism
- Collection
- Arts of the Americas
- Reference
- 1996.446 · Art Institute of Chicago