Nil Nisi Bonum 1870 - 1891

Charles Samuel Keene created this drawing, Nil Nisi Bonum, with pen and brown ink over graphite on paper, it is currently located here at the Art Institute of Chicago. The composition is intriguing, dominated by hatched lines forming tonal areas that define three figures in an interior setting. The visual effect is one of intimacy, yet the subjects’ backs are turned to us, creating a sense of exclusion. Note how the varying densities of the hatched lines give form to figures and objects, creating depth and shadow. Keene's use of hatching is not merely descriptive, but expressive. It suggests a sense of movement and energy within the otherwise still scene. Semiotically, the domestic setting, rendered with such attention to light and shadow, speaks to Victorian ideals of home and family. Yet, the turned backs and the sketch-like quality of the drawing introduce an element of ambiguity, destabilizing any fixed interpretation. Ultimately, Keene’s technique invites us to look beyond the literal representation and consider the interplay of absence and presence, privacy and exposure. The drawing serves not just as a record of a moment, but as a prompt for contemplation.