Sargent at the Met, Sherald at the Whitney

[Wilfrid]

These shows (Sargent and Paris, Amy Sherald: American Sublime) were both in previews recently so I saw them a few days apart. I really recommend the experience. It's all about the portraits.

Admittedly, the Sargent show begins with the very young artist working in a wide range of genres on his arrival in Paris. But the main parts of the show ("sumptuous" is a good word) feature his large scale, mostly commissioned portraits. (Almost every painting in the show was completed in his twenties.)

The Sherald show is almost entirely portraits. Yes, there are some large canvases that locate the model in a landscape but mostly it's just you and the model. The model stands against a background of solid or gently dappled color. The clothes are interesting, some of the titles are funny, but it's really about the face, the eyes, the gaze. (Note, it's also worth watching the video about her practice in a side gallery; the references to old black and white family photos is revelatory.)

Sargent works much harder at garments and backgrounds, but again, it comes down to that look.

I think if I just post two images, the relationship between the shows becomes vivid.

[bloviatrix]

I'm so excited for both of the shows. I saw Sherald at Hauser & Wirth in 2019 and it was magnificent.