Artwork
Man in Top Hat, Smoking a Cigar
Man in Top Hat, Smoking a Cigar is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Robert William Vonnoh. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Robert William Vonnoh’s drawing titled *Man in Top Hat, Smoking a Cigar* is executed in graphite on a blue‑gray wove paper that has been prepared and then scratched to produce highlights. The work is a single‑figure study, rendered in a monochrome palette, and is catalogued as a drawing rather than a painting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a gentleman wearing a top hat while holding a lit cigar, suggesting a moment of leisure or contemplation. The figure’s posture and the act of smoking convey a sense of early‑20th‑century urban sophistication, inviting viewers to consider the social customs associated with tobacco and formal attire.
Technique & Style
Vonnoh employed graphite to outline the figure, then used a scratching technique to create reflective highlights on the prepared paper surface. This method produces a subtle contrast between the dark graphite strokes and the lighter, scraped areas, emphasizing the texture of the hat and the sheen of the cigar smoke.
History & Provenance
The drawing is dated 1801, though it is attributed to Robert William Vonnoh, an American artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its provenance records are limited, and the work is primarily known through museum collections that document Vonnoh’s graphic output.
Artist & collection
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