The Chimney Corner 1863

Eastman Johnson made this oil on board, titled ‘The Chimney Corner’, in 1868. The image depicts a man sitting by what appears to be a doorway or the corner of a house, reading. In the aftermath of the American Civil War, images of Black Americans took on new significance. Johnson's painting engages with questions of literacy and self-determination. In this period, literacy was not just a skill but a symbol of freedom and progress. The act of reading becomes a powerful statement of self-reliance and ambition. But how should we read it? Is this progressive or conservative? Johnson had close ties to the art establishment, and the National Academy Museum and School, for example. Historical archives help us to understand such nuances. By examining the social and institutional contexts of art, we can grasp its rich meaning.