The artwork, titled “Study of Dr. Agnew for the Agnew Clinic,” is a piece by Thomas Eakins, belonging to the Realism art movement. It is categorized under the genre of sketch and study, signifying its preparatory nature for a larger, more comprehensive work.
In the artwork, the focal point is a detailed portrayal of Dr. Agnew, depicted with precise anatomical accuracy characteristic of Realism. The piece captures Dr. Agnew in a contemplative pose, dressed in medical attire, holding a surgical instrument in his right hand. The background is rendered in dark, muted tones, which contrasts with the illuminated figure of Dr. Agnew, thereby accentuating his presence. The brushwork and attention to light and shadow give the piece a lifelike quality, emphasizing the clinical environment and the serious, introspective expression of the subject.
