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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

John Singer Sargent: Charcoal Drawings

Feb 28 – May 31, 2020
8th St NW & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

In 1907, the renowned portraitist John Singer Sargent shocked the world when he said he was dropping his paintbrush in favor of the unworthy material black charcoal. His charcoal portraits, however, proved quite worthy—as psychologically astute and impressively animated as their canvas counterparts. This is the first exhibition dedicated to Sargent’s portrait drawings in over 50 years. —E.C.

John Singer Sargent, “Ruth Draper as a Dalmatian Peasant Artist,” c. 1914. Museum of the City of New York.