Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Henrietta Haller
Accession Number
1904-16-252
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Robert Frederick Blum (1857–1903), a prominent American artist of the late 19th, captures the essence of individuality in his 1880 work *Man*. Trained at the National Academy of Design in New York Blum was renowned for his skillful portrayals of everyday figures, blending Realism with a keen eye for character and texture. This piece, classified as a figure study, likely reflects his early career focus on portraiture and urban subjects, influenced by the vibrant New York art scene amid the Gilded Age's social transformations. Created during a pivotal year when Blum began exploring European inf...