“Alice Runnels James (Mrs. William James),” crafted by John Singer Sargent in 1921, is a watercolor on paper portrait that embodies the Realism art movement. This artwork is located in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.
The artwork presents a seated woman, portrayed with a delicate and expressive use of watercolor. The subject, dressed in light and loose garments, reclines elegantly on a wicker chair against a plain and warm-colored background. Her composed expression and languid posture convey a sense of calm and introspection. Sargent’s intricate brushwork and mastery of light and shadow are vividly displayed, capturing the textures and subtleties of the fabrics and the gentle contours of her face. The overall composition exudes both intimacy and quiet reflection, characteristic of Sargent’s portraiture.
