Hiawatha

Hiawatha, an 1874 painting by Thomas Eakins, is housed in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.  Measuring 0.446 meters wide and 0.357 meters high, the artwork depicts a solitary, dark figure, possibly a man, standing against a backdrop of a dramatic, textured sky. The sky is rendered in dark greens, browns, and golds, suggesting a sunset or twilight. The figure is silhouetted against this vibrant sky, appearing almost as a shadow. The overall mood is somber and contemplative.