Artwork
Study for "A Woman Hater"
Study for "A Woman Hater" is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Charles Samuel Keene. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Charles Samuel Keene’s 1871 drawing, held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, serves as a preparatory study for his larger composition titled “A Woman Hater.” Executed in a modest scale, the work captures a solitary figure in a moment of activity, offering a glimpse into the artist’s planning stage before the final piece was completed.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a man wearing a top hat, bent forward with a tool grasped in his right hand. His left arm is folded at the elbow, and his head is lowered, suggesting concentration on a task that may relate to his trade. The figure’s posture and attire hint at a working‑class individual, aligning with the title’s suggestion of a character averse to romantic entanglements.
Technique & Style
Keene employs a restrained line economy, using simple, fluid strokes that outline the figure without elaborate shading or background detail. This minimalistic approach concentrates attention on the pose and gesture, creating an intimate study of form and movement that anticipates the more elaborate treatment in the finished painting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1871, the drawing remained in private collections before being acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is now part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century British drawings. Its presence in the museum’s catalogue underscores Keene’s role in the development of British illustration during the late Victorian period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Samuel Keene (10 August 1823 – 4 January 1891) was an English artist and illustrator, who worked in black and white.
