Mr. Day c. 1835

Ammi Phillips painted "Mr. Day" using oil on canvas, date unknown. The portrait is striking in its directness, with Mr. Day rendered in a palette of muted browns and blacks, offset by the stark white of his vest and the newspaper he holds. The composition is structured around the contrast between the sitter's rigid posture and the slight tilt of his head, which adds a sense of immediacy. Phillips employs a deliberate flatness, eschewing traditional modeling for a more linear approach to form. The newspaper held by Mr. Day functions as a signifier, alluding to his engagement with intellectual or religious matters. The portrait avoids idealized representation, instead, the artist captures the sitter's likeness with an emphasis on the geometric structure of his face. The artist simplifies the subject to his most essential forms, offering a study in geometric structure, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface.