Unknown maker

The maker, designated only as Unknown maker, was active during a narrow, four-year window in the mid-nineteenth century, with documented production spanning 1842 to 1846. Though the artist’s identity remains unconfirmed, their historical significance is demonstrated by the twenty surviving works represented in major institutional holdings.

The known oeuvre displays a versatility in subject matter, encompassing both portraiture and industrial documentation. Identified works include several generic portraits, such as Untitled (Portrait of a Woman) and Untitled (Portrait of a Man and Woman), alongside the highly specific documentary piece, Untitled (Construction of the First Drydock, U.S. Navy Yard, Dry Dock #1 Brooklyn, NY).

This collection of works, which includes fifteen other pieces, is preserved by the Art Institute of Chicago. The significant representation of Unknown maker paintings and prints held by the museum establishes a verifiable record of their brief period of activity. Today, these historical documents are often made available as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork, supporting research and public accessibility to material entering the public domain.