Portrait of a Man Standing in Front of Window n.d.

This is Benjamin West’s “Portrait of a Man Standing in Front of Window,” made with graphite on paper. West, born in Pennsylvania, became a historical painter for the English court. Here, a man rests against a round surface by a window. There is an intimate quietness to this piece; the man’s gaze drifts upward and out of the frame, a contemplative expression conveyed through West’s delicate marks. What does it mean to look at this piece through the lens of today? As we consider the portrait, it's worth noting West's position within the British establishment, painting portraits of the elite and allegories of colonial exploits. Here, though, we have a quiet moment with a man whose story remains untold. Are we seeing a person of privilege, or perhaps someone whose likeness would otherwise be unrecorded? This drawing creates a space to reflect on the complexities of representation and visibility.