Olive Trees, Corfu

Olive Trees, Corfu is a vibrant watercolor created by John Singer Sargent American, 1856-1925, in 1909. This piece exemplifies the artist’s prolific late period characterized by travel and an intensified focus on landscape and direct observation. The work is classified as a painting, executed using watercolor and opaque watercolor applied over graphite on ivory wove paper. Sargent employed sophisticated mixed-media techniques to achieve texture and effects of light, notably incorporating scraping and wax resist. This unique choice of medium allowed the artist to capture the intense Mediterranean sunlight filtering through the dense foliage of the ancient olive groves found on the Greek island of Corfu.

Sargent’s technique here moves beyond traditional aquarelle. The simultaneous use of opaque watercolor (gouache) builds necessary density and solidity, contrasting sharply with the transparent washes of traditional watercolor. Furthermore, the specialized methods of scraping and wax resist add fractured light and shimmering highlights, mimicking the visual intensity of the sun-drenched scene. These textural manipulations reflect the widespread influence of Impressionism prevalent in the fin de siècle art world, while simultaneously maintaining the masterful draftsmanship for which Sargent was globally renowned.

The piece represents a mature phase of art from the United States, demonstrating the global reach of American artists at the turn of the century. Created during his later years, when he dedicated significantly less time to formal portraiture, this work cemented Sargent’s reputation as a modernist pioneer of the medium. This significant work by the American master currently resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Due to its cultural importance and classification, high-quality fine art prints of this work are frequently reproduced, making images of this Sargent masterwork widely accessible, especially as related images enter the public domain.