Old Man, Seated 1855

Eastman Johnson captured this figure with watercolor, a medium that’s usually associated with quick studies rather than finished works. The visible brushwork and the way the colors blend and bleed into each other give the image an immediacy that helps us connect with the subject. Consider the clothing the man wears; it speaks volumes about the labor he has performed. His worn, dark trousers and weathered jacket, rendered with muted tones, suggest a life of toil. Notice how Johnson used the fluidity of watercolor to evoke the texture and weight of the fabric, hinting at years of wear and tear. The artist paid close attention to the slumped posture and the weary hand supporting his head, conveying a sense of exhaustion and the passage of time. Johnson’s choice of watercolor and his focus on the materiality of clothing elevate the everyday, prompting us to reflect on the lives of ordinary people and the dignity of labor.