Artwork preview

Black Sawyers Working in front of the Bank of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

John Lewis Krimmel

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a scene of black men at work. Six black people are present, all dressed in 19th-century attire. Three men are positioned on the right side, one wearing a white shirt and hat, another in an orange shirt and brown hat, and the third in a white shirt. On the left side, three people are visible: a man in a blue shirt and black hat pushing a wheelbarrow, a woman in a pink dress and white hat, and a child in a yellow dress. In the background, a large white building with columns and a dome is visible. The building has a triangular roof and appears to be a government or institutional structure. The scene is set against a blue sky with clouds.

Artwork Details

Date
1811–ca. 1813
Medium
Watercolor and graphite on white laid paper
Culture
American
Dimensions
468 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette