Artwork
Mr. Kline
Mr. Kline is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Jacob Eichholtz. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Eichholtz’s portrait titled “Mr. Kline” is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel around 1808. The work belongs to the early nineteenth‑century Romantic period, reflecting the era’s interest in individual character and emotional presence.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a seated gentleman turned slightly toward his left. He is dressed in a black coat with a smooth texture, a crisp white shirt, and a white cravat that peeks beneath a high collar. His short, somewhat disheveled hair and direct gaze convey a personal, informal immediacy typical of Romantic portraiture.
Technique & Style
Eichholtz applied oil pigments to a prepared wood surface, allowing for fine detail in the fabric folds and facial features. The handling of light emphasizes the contrast between the dark coat and the luminous shirt, while the brushwork remains relatively smooth, aligning with the Romantic emphasis on subtle emotional nuance.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1808, the portrait was likely commissioned by the sitter or his family, a common practice for middle‑class patrons of the time. The painting has remained in private collections before entering a public institution, where it is catalogued as an example of early American Romantic portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
