Madame X (1884), John Singer Sargent's famed painting of a woman in a stunning black dress, is today considered an iconic work of American art, even though its origins actually lie in Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Black Dress Digital Collection Giulio Salti Portrait of an Elegant Woman in a Black Dress MutualArt How John Singer Sargent's 'Madame X' Turned Paris High Society Upside Down John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of Madame Pierre Gautreau, famously known as Madam X, truly earns its iconic status. As an artist, what strikes me most is its sheer graphic power. Even William Merritt Chase Lady in Black (Lilian Westcott Hale) Art & Prints Artsy