Machinist c. 1859

Emma Stebbins's "Machinist" (c. 1859) is a marble sculpture depicting a working-class man, likely a skilled craftsman, in the midst of his labor. The figure stands with a relaxed yet dignified posture, his tools and work in progress at his side. Stebbins, known for her neoclassical style, imbued the "Machinist" with a sense of both realism and idealized beauty, capturing the dignity of manual labor in the mid-19th century. This sculpture, now housed at The Art Institute of Chicago, is a testament to Stebbins's talent and her ability to depict the human form with both precision and emotion.