Two Women in a Café

late 1880s
Not on view
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Two Women in a Café
  • Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856–1925 London)
  • Date: late 1880s
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Charcoal on off-white wove paper
  • Dimensions: 8 11/16 x 11 1/8 in. (22.1 x 28.3 cm)
    Mat: 14 1/4 × 19 1/4 in. (36.2 × 48.9 cm)
    Framed (standard exhibition frame): 16 1/4 × 21 1/4 × 1 1/8 in. (41.3 × 54 × 2.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Francis Ormond, 1950
  • Object Number: 50.130.118
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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