The Scourged Back

McPherson & Oliver

National Gallery of Art

This sepia-toned photograph shows the upper half of a man who is seated with his back towards us. The man's head is turned over his left shoulder, allowing us to see his face in profile. He is topless, with dark skin, short, curly hair, and a beard. He sits on a stool with fabric wrapped around his waist and his left hand on his hip. His bare back is covered in overlapping scars that stretch from the bottom of his neck to his hips. The scars are raised and reflect light from an unseen light source. The background is a plain, tan surface, and the photograph is framed by a thin red outline.