Man Leaning on a Counter c. 1820s

Charles Wesley Jarvis made this pencil drawing, Man Leaning on a Counter, in nineteenth-century America. What does this image tell us about the social function of art at the time? This is not a flattering portrait of a wealthy man. The sitter appears to be a commoner, perhaps a shopkeeper or worker. Jarvis’s emphasis on realism and his choice of subject matter suggest a democratic sensibility, perhaps aligned with the populist movements of the Jacksonian era. It is interesting to consider how the institutions of art at the time may have shaped Jarvis’s artistic production, as well as the reception of his work. Was Jarvis commissioned by a patron, or did he create this drawing independently? Was it intended for public display, or was it a private study? To better understand the context in which this drawing was made, we can consult period newspapers and journals, exhibition catalogues, and other primary sources. In so doing, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the ways in which art reflects and shapes the social world.