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The Jig

William Sidney Mount

1866

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Jig is a 1866 by William Sidney Mount, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: William Sidney Mount
When & what style?: 1866 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This sketch shows four men walking in a loose line. The first man stands with his hands behind his back, while the second bends slightly forward, carrying something over his shoulder. The other two follow, one with a bag slung over his arm. The lines are quick and rough, like hurried pencil strokes. The drawing looks like a quick study of people in motion, maybe from real life. The artist didn’t smooth out the lines—it feels like they were drawn fast, almost like a snapshot. If you like this style, check out Realism for more paintings that focus on everyday life.