Who painted Not at Home?

Not at Home was painted by Eastman Johnson in 1873.

Where can I see Not at Home?

Not at Home is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Not at Home?

Not at Home is associated with American Impressionism.

Artwork

Not at Home

Eastman Johnson , 1873

Not at Home is an unspecified painting by the American Impressionist artist Eastman Johnson. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1873, *Not at Home* is an oil painting by Eastman Johnson that captures a quiet domestic interior. The composition centers on a warmly illuminated space where a woman in dark attire hesitates at an open doorway, her back turned toward the viewer. The scene is rendered with subdued colors and a focus on the tactile qualities of the carpet, curtain, and furnishings.

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a moment of pause: a woman appears ready to enter the room but lingers outside, suggesting themes of transition and private contemplation. The modest objects on the table—a framed picture, a clock, and assorted items—anchor the setting in everyday life, inviting reflection on the intimacy of domestic spaces and the subtle narratives they hold.

Technique & Style

Johnson employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing golden light to spill across the red carpet and highlight the texture of the fabrics and wood. The muted palette and soft edges align the painting with American Impressionist tendencies, while the careful rendering of light and shadow recalls the influence of 17th‑century Dutch genre painters studied during Johnson’s time in The Hague.

History & Provenance

Painted during Johnson’s mature period, *Not at Home* reflects his ongoing interest in genre scenes after his co‑founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting remained in private collections throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries before entering a museum holding in the early 2000s, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions on American domestic art.

Context

The 1870s saw American artists increasingly adopting European techniques while focusing on distinctly local subjects. Johnson’s interior scenes, including this one, illustrate the shift from grand historical narratives toward the depiction of ordinary American life, aligning with broader cultural movements that valued realism and the nuanced portrayal of everyday moments.

Artist & collection

Artist

Eastman Johnson

Jonathan Eastman Johnson (July 29, 1824 – April 5, 1906) was an American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with his name inscribed at its entrance.