William Michael Harnett (1848–1892)

A fine example of one of Harnett’s so-called “bachelor’s” still lifes, Staats-Zeitung and Pretzel presents an intricate arrangement of objects associated with the quiet, private world of simple masculine pleasures, namely smoking, drinking, and reading the news. A strategically folded issue of the Staats-Zeitung, a publication that catered to German-Americans, is placed on a table behind a massive earthenware beer mug, a Caporal tobacco package that has been torn open, and a brier pipe with a large bowl and decorative perforated collar.  A piece of a pretzel (also of German origin and a popular baked good in Harnett’s hometown of Philadelphia) is balanced on the edge of the table, and echoes the curve of the mug handle. Some salt flakes have fallen off the pretzel, and three used matches and some ashes are scattered across the edge of the table.  While enough of the banner of the paper is revealed to positively identify it, the publication date is almost totally obscured due to the way the paper is folded, and by the deliberate placement of the pipe stem, which hides the day and year. The only legible letters are “p” and “r”, perhaps indicating the month of April. The number “7” is also clearly visible, perhaps alluding to 1877, the year the painting was executed. With these tantalizing hints about time and place, and the careful arrangement and meticulous description of personal items, Harnett only partially reveals the identity of his patron.