H. Wood Sullivan - "The Shaver" c. 1890 - 1900

Jefferson David Chalfant sketched "The Shaver" using graphite on paper. Initially, the composition draws you in with its perspectival accuracy. The subject, seated, shaving before a mirror, is framed by the linear architecture of the room. Chalfant meticulously renders the play of light and shadow, giving a sense of depth to the scene. Note how the precision of line, especially in the furniture and architectural details, contrasts with the softer, more fluid rendering of the figure. This contrast highlights the tension between the constructed environment and the human presence within it. The artist challenges our understanding of space and form by blurring the lines between representation and reality, object and subject. "The Shaver" invites us to see beyond the surface, questioning the structures that shape our perception.