Thomas Eakins

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Thomas Eakins (1844–1916) emerged as one of America's most important realist painters, dedicating his career to depicting the world and people around him with unflinching honesty. His early life was steeped in a blend of art and science; he excelled in mechanical drawing, studied anatomy at Jefferson Medical College, and even considered a career as a surgeon. These interests profoundly shaped his artistic vision, leading him to work exactingl…