Two Women in a Café

John Singer Sargent

late 1880s · Charcoal on off-white wove paper · The American Wing

Though friends described Sargent as shy and retiring, he was also very social and went out nearly every night. This informal sketch probably shows his childhood friend Flora Priestley (1859–1944) with an unidentified woman. The table and loosely drawn cups, represented by a few quick lines, suggest that the setting is a café. The relaxed and confident poses of the two elegantly attired figures seated on a banquette may imply that they are "new women" who are not concerned with breeching decorum by smoking in public.

Artist

John Singer Sargent

Date

late 1880s

Medium

Charcoal on off-white wove paper

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Francis Ormond, 1950