Mr. James Mackie 1830 - 1840

Curator: Samuel Lovett Waldo painted this portrait of "Mr. James Mackie" sometime between 1830 and 1840. It's currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Editor: My first impression is one of controlled austerity, almost suppressed energy. Look at the meticulous detail in the coat contrasted with the ambiguous space around him. Curator: The details definitely speak to the era’s social codes. His dark coat and the crisp white of his shirt peeking out from the bow tie, evoke ideas of industry, perhaps law or commerce. Editor: It is striking to observe that we do not get a firm sense of James Mackie’s profession, but it's very apparent how Waldo used his skill to create this rich and dense surface, especially in the jacket’s fabric. It gives a real sense of material value and what would likely have been the cost of the portrait itself. What stories could it tell about production methods or its makers? Curator: Perhaps the darkness swirling around him speaks to a desire for upward mobility, or to distance himself from less socially-desirable connections? His eyes though – direct and even challenging – project that ambition, an attitude accentuated by his crisp fashionable style. Editor: And note the token dangling from his waistband; this object speaks volumes to me! Is it a fob, a watch chain ornament? Close inspection suggests that it's gilded, and it definitely speaks to status... it speaks volumes about class performance. Curator: A calculated presentation, for sure! It also connects to traditions of portraiture. His almost architectural stance provides both gravity and presence. The carefully orchestrated clothing isn’t merely fabric; each conveys narratives of identity. Editor: Exactly. The construction of the painting – from the canvas weave to the pigment mixing – served to construct his identity, but how might the same forms have been made and received among various segments of society? Curator: It's fascinating how Waldo captures this particular moment in American history where both outward projection and inner determination held equal weight. Editor: It absolutely captures a historical and material moment! Curator: Indeed, it shows us the interesting tension of the era as translated into the sitter's individual presentation.