Clara (Clara J. Mather) 1900

Thomas Eakins painted this oil on canvas portrait of Clara J. Mather at an unknown date. Eakins was an artist deeply invested in the institutions of art and science. He even used photography to further understand human anatomy. But Eakins was also famously dismissed from his teaching post at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for his insistence on the use of nude models. Clara J. Mather, the subject of this painting, has a somber expression, seemingly gazing off into the distance. The dark color palette and loose brushstrokes give the portrait an unfinished quality, as though we are observing a fleeting moment. Like many artists, Eakins sought to capture a sense of realism in his portraits, reflecting the changing social mores of his time. Art historians consider how Eakins’s approach challenged the conventions of portraiture in the late 19th century in America. Exploring his complex relationship with the art establishment helps us to understand him better.