Study for "Elkanah Watson" 1782

John Singleton Copley created this graphite sketch, titled "Study for Elkanah Watson," as preparation for a full-scale painting. Copley was an American-born artist who achieved considerable success painting portraits of the British elite. Here, the unfinished quality offers us a glimpse into the artistic process of portraying status and identity in the late 18th century. Consider the figure of Elkanah Watson, a merchant and agricultural promoter. Every detail, from his posture to his attire, was carefully planned to convey respectability and success. Copley’s attention to detail reveals the importance of outward appearances in shaping social perceptions. What does it mean to carefully construct one's image, and how does it shape our understanding of identity? This sketch invites us to consider the ways in which social expectations influence individual expression.