Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Henrietta Haller
Accession Number
1904-16-73
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Figure** by Robert Frederick Blum (18571903) is an early work from 1876, created when the American artist was just 19 old. Blum, a prominent figure in late 19th-century American art, began his career studying at the School of the Museum Fine Arts in Boston before traveling to Europe, where he honed his skills portraiture, genre scenes, and later, Japanese-influenced prints. This, classified as a "figure," likely represents one of his initial explorations into the human form, a foundational subject for aspiring artists of the era. Though the medium remains unknown and research is ongoing, th...