The artwork titled “Man Sitting – Back View” was created by artist Wayne Thiebaud in the year 1964. This oil on canvas integrates the principles of New Realism and can be categorized as a genre painting. The piece measures 91.4 by 74.9 centimeters and is part of the collection of the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, United States.
The artwork presents a solitary male figure seated in a chair, viewed from behind. The subject sits squarely in the chair, which is positioned centrally within the composition, its wooden structure depicted with precise, clean lines that convey a sense of sturdiness. The man’s attire is nondescript, featuring a light-colored shirt and darker pants, and his posture is erect and attentive, suggesting perhaps a moment of contemplation or waiting. A stark contrast is established between the figure and the chair against the uniformly pale background, which lacks any contextual clues about the setting. The artist’s application of paint creates subtle variations in tone and texture on the surfaces of the man’s clothing and the wooden chair, contributing to a palpable sense of realism despite the minimalistic setting.
