Madame Paul Escudier (Louise Lefevre) 1882 United States. In this depiction of Frenchwoman Louise Escudier, John Singer Sargent undercut traditional portrait conventions by prioritizing the dramatic effects of light and dark in a Parisian apartment. The picture grew out of a series of atmospheric views of working-class women in darkened interiors that the artist produced on two trips to Venice between 1880 and 1882. It combines the Impressionistsí gestural brushwork with a heightened chiaroscuro (light and shade) drawn from Spanish Old Masters such as Diego Vel·zquez. These compositions helped to establish Sargentís reputation in Paris as a daring and original painter.. Oil on canvas . John Singer Sargent