Thieves in the Pantry
Medium
Graphite on tan wove paper
Dimensions
13.2 × 9.8 cm (5 1/4 × 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
156301
Art Historical Context
William Michael Harnett's *Thieves in the Pan* is a charming graphite drawing on tan wove paper, measuring 13.2 × 9.8 cm. Created around the late 19th (date unknown), this intimate sketch captures the artist's masterful eye for everyday detail in the Prints and Drawings collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Harnett, an Irish-American painter renowned for his trompe l'oeil still lifes, often depicted humble objects with astonishing realism, blurring the line between art and reality. In this work, graphite serves as a versatile medium, allowing Harnett to render textures and subtle tones ...