Portrait of William B. Kurtz 1903

In this portrait of William B. Kurtz, Thomas Eakins lays down delicate washes of brown and grey. I see Eakins working the paint wet-on-wet, allowing the forms to emerge gradually from the darkness. I imagine Eakins squinting at his sitter, searching for the essential shapes and volumes that make up his face and figure. The thinness of the paint allows for a certain luminosity, especially around Kurtz's face, but there are other parts where he allows you to see the hand working. The subject is clearly illuminated, his expression serious, even severe. Those hands in his pockets, tell me he is somewhat nonchalant. Eakins's portraits are often praised for their psychological depth and realism, and he often focused on depicting people in their everyday environments, capturing their unique personalities and inner lives. The work, like all paintings, is the product of an ongoing exchange of ideas that stretches back through time. By embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, the artist gives space for many different readings.