Pavement, Cairo

John Singer Sargent

National Gallery of Art

This nearly square, sketchy painting shows the interior of an empty courtyard, created in milky tones of oatmeal brown, ivory, muted brick red, eucalyptus green, and slate blue. We look across a floor patterned with round and octagonal stones. Across from us, a darkened, arched doorway is set into a larger, lighter arched opening. A niche or a window to our right is covered with a lattice. To our left, another arched opening angles toward us and to our left. It opens onto an indistinct space filled with golden light. Lighter strokes of pale mauve pink and warm parchment yellow on the face of the arch to our left suggests sunlight sifting into the interior space. Brushstrokes are visible throughout.