Artwork
Man Seated in Hitchcock Chair
Man Seated in Hitchcock Chair is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Sanford Robinson Gifford. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sanford Robinson Gifford’s drawing titled *Man Seated in Hitchcock Chair* was executed in 1854. Rendered in watercolor and graphite on wove paper, the work measures a modest size typical of 19th‑century studies and is classified as a drawing rather than a finished painting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a solitary figure perched sideways on a plain wooden stool, often referred to as a Hitchcock chair. He wears a long coat, light trousers and boots, with his legs extended forward, suggesting a moment of quiet repose. The sparse background directs attention to the figure’s relaxed posture and the texture of his garments.
Technique & Style
Gifford employs swift, gestural graphite lines to outline the man’s clothing and the stool’s form, while watercolor washes provide a muted tonal field. The handling is loose and economical, characteristic of mid‑19th‑century sketching practices that favored suggestion of movement over meticulous detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1854, the drawing belongs to Gifford’s early period, when he was developing his landscape and figure studies. Its subsequent ownership record is limited, but it has remained within institutional collections that focus on American watercolor and drawing traditions.
Artist & collection
