Artwork
In Prison
In Prison is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist William Sidney Mount. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in brown ink: In Prison; lower right in brown ink: W.S.M.
About this work
Overview
In Prison is a drawing executed around 1844 by American artist William Sidney Mount. Rendered with pen and brown ink on wove paper, the work presents a compact, monochromatic study that reflects Mount’s interest in everyday subjects and social observation during the mid‑nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Mount employed fine pen lines and a limited brown ink palette to delineate figures and interior space, emphasizing contrast and texture on the smooth surface of wove paper. The drawing’s restrained tonal range and precise draftsmanship are characteristic of his approach to narrative illustration, focusing on clarity of form over decorative detail.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1844, the piece belongs to the period when Mount was expanding beyond genre paintings into illustrative works. While specific ownership records are scarce, the drawing has been documented in catalogues of Mount’s oeuvre and is held in a public collection that specializes in American 19th‑century art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
William Sidney Mount (November 26, 1807 – November 19, 1868) was a 19th-century American genre painter.
