Portrait of a Tailor

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a man seated cross-legged on a patterned surface that could be a table or platform covered with floral fabric. The man's full body is visible from the waist up to his head, with his legs tucked beneath him. He has a full beard and mustache, with short, neatly trimmed hair, and is wearing a round, flat-brimmed hat. His facial features are prominent and he has a focused expression. He is dressed in a white shirt with a high collar, a vest, and pants that are slightly wrinkled. The man is holding a long, thin tool or object in his hands. To his left, there is a large, heavy apparatus with a handle. The background is plain and worn, suggesting either an aged wall or a backdrop.