Family

The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit

John Singer Sargent

American

1856-1925

The artists point of view: Through this painting, Sargent has shown us that there are four daughters in the Boit family. Although there is little movement going on, maybe just the girls holding hands, they all seem still. Balance within the painting is found through its colors, coming from dark and getting brighter, as if the two girls in the back are hiding. Who are they? Could they possibly benot the daughters but rather service girls? They are dressed very much alike and we cannot see their faces clearly, while the two girls in the front are much more clear and have a brighter setting. One is playing with a doll while the other young child is standing near the wall. This beautiful painting can be seen at the MFA in Boston, MA. The gorgeous china vases can be seen also, standing next to the painting itself.

The artist creates a repetition with the vases, they are very suttle. Sargent uses a great amount of contrast in this painting, with the light and dark. There is also a big sense of unitiy within the painting, something about an even amount of girls gives it that sense and also the rug gives it that almost home-y feel, making the girls look slightly stiff, but not, just like they are comfortable with being painted at such a young age.