8.25 x 5 inches, oil on board
Young boy by William Walker
William Aiken Walker, a genre painter celebrated for his depictions of plantations, cotton fields, African Americans, and dock scenes, hailed from a prominent Southern background. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1838, as the son of a distinguished cotton agent, Walker demonstrated his artistic inclination early, completing his first painting at the age of twelve. He continued painting until his passing in 1921, primarily being self-taught despite a brief period of study in Dusseldorf during the 1860s.
Known for his sociable nature, Walker entertained friends with tales of his Southern travels, exploring regions such as Florida, Galveston, Texas, and the Carolinas. While he may have drawn inspiration from European artistic subjects and styles, he remained a true Southern artist.
In 1884, Currier and Ives published several of Walker’s color lithographs, notably “Cotton Plantation on the Mississippi” and “The Levee, New Orleans,” catapulting him to recognition. Throughout the Civil War, Walker stayed in Charleston, contributing to the Confederate Engineer Corps by creating sketches and maps for the Confederacy.
From 1876 to 1905, New Orleans became Walker’s home base, and he developed a close relationship with Everett B. D. Fabino Julio. Attempting to form an art league with Julio, their collaboration laid the groundwork for the Southern Art Union, established in 1880 as the earliest such association in New Orleans.
Walker’s most prolific period unfolded in the early 1880s, during which he painted numerous pictures depicting poor rustic African Americans. His fondness for North Carolina led him to spend many summers at Arden Park Lodge in the Asheville area, owned by his patron Charles Beale of Arden. This patronage allowed Walker to become a regular artist-in-residence, showcasing and selling his paintings at the lodge, often portraying scenes of African Americans working on tobacco farms.
While some of Walker’s works are detailed, owing to his occasional use of a camera, they sometimes lack emotional depth. Post-1890, he expanded his repertoire with an increased focus on landscapes. Beyond painting, Walker possessed diverse talents, engaging in singing, playing the violin and piano, and composing poetry in both English and French. Among his students was Blanche Blanchard, who emulated his style, copying some of his work.
It is rare to see a single figure painting of a child by Walker.
