The Bone Player, William Sidney Mount (American, 1807–1868) Oil on canvas, 1856

Issue #159
Spring 2024
His smile stretches wide to hide           a familiar, hollowed-out pain, minstrelled, ready to play           on command. How differently he’s portrayed           from others in his day— butternut brown, a burnished glow           lights his torso. Gold vest and grey frock coat,           pre-Civil...

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