The lady in black,
A profile of superciliousness,
Her manner haughty,
Turning away in disdain.
Some may think Madame Gautreau merely demure,
Her manner just an artifice,
Instructed in this manner and artistic pose,
By Sargent, that society painter of superficiality.
And yet, this scandalous work remains his tour de force,
A masterpiece of portraiture.
Time and critical appraisal have indeed
Been kind to his fame. And her reputation.
© 2017 S Phua
You tell me a lot I didn’t know about the portrait from just looking. Your appraisal of the subject as haughty seems right on the mark.