Suited Man
Oil on canvas
1931
Signed on lower right
36” x 30"
When Suited Man was first exhibited in New York City in 1931, it received favorable reviews. While the portrait reveals an urban gentleman, the sitter was in fact Isaac Copper from Copperville, a small rural settlement on the Eastern Shore. He dressed for the occasion, and possessed the confidence to sit calmly for the portrait. The result, a man of sophistication, stands out in contrast to other depictions of African American men of the time. His countenance and his nicely tailored suit show a person of substance and integrity; his posture is elegant, his hands refined. This polished version of the Classic Man enjoys a revival today.