Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Joseph Henry Sharp died in 1953; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2023.
In context
Y yut mat — Joseph Henry Sharp
The original measures 35 × 24 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 94 at death.
Painted when the artist was 41. The artist lived to 94. 8 of the 43 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Joseph Henry Sharp (1859–1953) ▲ this work, 1900 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1900 Main working years: 1900–1905 Late works: from 1905
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/joseph-henry-sharp-y-yut-mat-AQRM6D-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Sap Green #6f5f46
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 74.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 94 works by this artist, of which 29 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
About this artwork
Y yut mat — Joseph Henry Sharp
The painting Y yut mat by Joseph Henry Sharp is a stunning example of the artist's skill and technique. Created in 1900, this oil on paperboard painting is a beautiful representation of a Native American man with long hair and a red bandana on his head. The subject's facial features are prominent, including his eyes, nose, mouth, and chin.
Joseph Henry Sharp was an American painter known for his portraits of Native Americans. He was born in Bridgeport, Ohio, and studied art in Europe before returning to the United States. Sharp's style is characterized by his use of bold colors and detailed brushstrokes, which are evident in Y yut mat. The painting is now part of the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Key Features of the Painting:
The subject's traditional clothing and adornments are meticulously depicted
The use of color and light creates a sense of depth and dimensionality
The painting's composition is well-balanced, with the subject placed centrally
The Smithsonian American Art Museum has an extensive collection of Joseph Henry Sharp's work, including Y yut mat. Visitors can view the painting in person or explore the museum's online collection, which includes works by other notable artists such as Henry Ossawa Tanner and Alice Pike Barney. For those interested in learning more about Joseph Henry Sharp and his work, https://AllPaintingsStore.com offers a range of resources, including information on the artist's life and style, as well as reproductions of his paintings. The website also features a collection of paintings by other artists, including Joseph Henry Sharp: Y yut mat and Henry Ossawa Tanner's Salome.
The painting Y yut mat is a significant work by Joseph Henry Sharp, showcasing his skill and technique as a portrait painter. Its inclusion in the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum is a testament to its importance and beauty.
Artist and museum
Born in Bridgeport, United States of America
Born: September 27, 1859, Bridgeport, Ohio
Died: August 29, 1953
Parents: Irish immigrant parents; father was a merchant.
Early Fascination: Developed a strong interest in American Indians from a young age.
Hearing Loss: Nearly drowned as a boy, resulting in permanent hearing loss which significantly impacted his education and communication. He learned to read lips and carried a writing pad.
Early Work: Worked in a nail factory at the age of 12 to support his family after his father's death.
McMicken School of Design, Cincinnati: Briefly attended before financial constraints forced him to leave school.
European Studies (1881-1886): Traveled to Europe where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium.
Return to Cincinnati & Mentorship: Returned to Cincinnati and worked alongside Henry Farny, though Farny discouraged painting Native Americans.
Royal Academy of Munich: Studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Munich) and later with Frank Duveneck in Italy.
Académie Julian, Paris: Furthered his studies at the Académie Julian in Paris, influenced by Barbizon painters and Impressionists.
Realism & Portraiture: Known for realistic portrayals of American Indians, focusing on their cultural life and individual characteristics.
Influences: Influenced by the Barbizon school and Impressionism, evident in his use of light and shadow and broad brushstrokes.
Key Subjects: Primarily painted portraits of Native American warriors, chiefs, and everyday people, as well as Western landscapes.
Commissioned Work: Received a significant commission from President Theodore Roosevelt to paint 200 portraits of Native American warriors who survived the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Absarokee Hut: Built a cabin (Absarokee Hut) on Crow Agency land in Montana, allowing him extended time to study and depict Native American life.
Taos Society of Artists Founding Member: A founding member of the Taos Society of Artists, considered its "spiritual father."
Smithsonian Institution Acquisition: The Smithsonian Institution purchased eleven of his portraits in 1901.
Phoebe Hearst Patronage: Received significant support from Phoebe Hearst, who acquired over 150 of his works.
Thomas Gilcrease Collection: A large portion of his work and personal collection were purchased by Thomas Gilcrease, now housed at the Gilcrease Institute.
Recognition for Ethnographic Value: Recognized by curator W.H. Holmes for the accuracy with which he portrayed Native American physiognomy and costumes.
Documenting Native American Culture: Sharp's work provides valuable documentation of Native American life during a period of significant cultural change and displacement.
Early Western Artist in Taos: One of the earliest European-American artists to establish a presence in Taos, New Mexico, contributing to its artistic development.
Influence on Southwestern Art: His focus on Native American subjects helped shape the direction of Southwestern art and influenced subsequent generations of artists.
Preservation of Portraiture: Created a significant body of portraiture that captures the likenesses and dignity of individuals from various Native American tribes, preserving their memory for posterity.
topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/joseph-henry-sharp-y-yut-mat-AQRM6D-en/
Look closely
Y yut mat — Joseph Henry Sharp
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"Y yut mat" by Joseph Henry Sharp can be viewed as a slideshow on the artwork's Diaporama page.
"Y yut mat" is available as a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper. Orders are placed on its Fine Art Print page, in the size of your choice.
The X-Ray page of "Y yut mat" by Joseph Henry Sharp is an interactive viewer that lets you slide through eleven optical layers of the artwork's image, including an X-ray style view.