Artwork
A Difference
A Difference is a print by the Impressionist artist Francis Scott King. It dates from 1887 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Francis Scott King’s 1887 print A Difference is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Executed in black and white, the work presents a quiet outdoor scene framed by a carved façade and a cloud‑filled sky.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features two seated figures on a stone bench. One figure, dressed in loose, draped clothing, reclines with an outstretched arm, while the other, in a hat and coat, sits upright with crossed legs. The contrasting postures suggest a subtle tension between relaxation and formality.
Technique & Style
King employs chiaroscuro, using gradations of light and shadow to model the figures and give them a sense of volume. The careful shading of the background architecture and sky enhances the depth of the scene despite the limited tonal range of the print.
History & Provenance
Created in 1887, A Difference entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date. The print remains a representative example of King’s late‑19th‑century work in the medium of drawing.
Artist & collection
