John Biglin in a Single Scull c. 1873

Thomas Eakins painted “John Biglin in a Single Scull” in the late 19th century, a period marked by significant industrial and social change in America. Eakins, who lived and worked in Philadelphia, often depicted scenes of everyday life, and he brings an acute attention to the body and the growing culture of sport. In this piece, we see John Biglin, a working-class man, engaged in the traditionally upper-class sport of rowing. His red cap is pulled low over his brow. Eakins' choice to focus on Biglin calls attention to class distinctions in American society and the changing perception of labor and leisure. "I even avoid quite beautiful models," Eakins once said, "preferring types that suggest more or stronger character." Here he elevates the working man by portraying him with dignity and respect. The painting captures a moment of solitary focus, yet invites us to reflect on the broader social dynamics at play in the late 19th century.