Burkhart, Emerson, 1905-1969

For this painting titled "Mrs. Coleman" or "Matriarch," Emerson Burkhart used a style he referred to as"tactile realism." He wanted to make the viewer tactilely feel the object in the painting. To achieve this effect, he used paint liberally to create excruciating detail. This style of painting took a great deal of time. This portrait took sixteen day-long sittings to complete. Burkhart met Mrs. Coleman while painting a portrait of her son, Oscar. He spent a month getting to know the family and the East Side neighborhood they lived in. The painting reflects the "super realism" that Burkhart became known for.

Emerson C. Burkhart (1905-1969) was born in Kalinda, Ohio, and lived most of his life in Columbus. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan, where he studied art, Burkhart struggled to support himself through the Depression. Burkhart held many local exhibitions and received numerous honors and awards throughout his career.