Garrit Furman
Medium
Engraving on chine collé
Dimensions
plate: 6 1/16 x 4 7/16 in. (15.4 x 11.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Frederic F. Durand, 1930
Accession Number
30.15.29
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the intimate portrait *Garrit Furman*, an exquisite engraving on chine collé created 1830 by American artists Asher Brown Durand and Thomas Seir Cummings. Measuring just over 6 by 4 inches, this small-scale print captures the likeness of its sitter with remarkable precision, reflecting the era's fascination with portraiture as a means of personal commemoration and social status. Engraving on chine collé—a technique where delicate Chinese paper is adhered to a sturdier support—was prized in the early 19th century for its ability to hold fine lines and subtle tones without cracking. Durand, later a leading figure in the Hudson River School known for majestic landscapes, began his career as a skilled engraver, while Cummings excelled in miniature portraits. Together, they produced works that democratized access to high-quality likenesses through affordable prints. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece—gifted by Mrs. Frederic F. Durand in 1930—offers a window into antebellum American life, where such portraits honored merchants, professionals, and family members like Furman, blending technical virtuosity with cultural resonance.
About the Artist
Asher Brown Durand|Thomas Seir Cummings|Garrit Furman · 1796–1886
Was a principal member of the Hudson River School. American artist; associated with the Hudson River School of landscape painting. Comment on works: Portraits