Philip Cheney

American, born 1897

Explore selected works

This is a drawing of an interior of a wooden structure with various items. The interior depicts a rustic, wooden cabin or barn with a sloped roof and exposed beams. In the foreground, there is a wooden rocking chair draped with a piece of fabric, buckets or pails, and a lantern. Towards the center and right of the image is a long, partially-covered wooden table or counter, with steam or smoke rising from it. Light and shadow play throughout the drawing, indicating a light source casting soft shadows across the wooden surfaces. The items and structure suggest a practical, lived-in environment, indicative of work or daily life in a rural setting.
Philip Cheney, Sugaring, 1941, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1221

Sugaring

Philip Cheney · 1941 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1221
This is a drawing of a carnival or sideshow scene. The image shows a view from behind a stage, where two performers are standing under a tent. The performers are dressed in costumes that suggest they are part of a sideshow act. Beyond them, a crowd of spectators is gathered, watching the show. Some spectators stand with their arms crossed, while others seem to be peering towards the stage. The environment includes tent tops and ropes, indicating an outdoor setting typical of a fair or carnival. The foreground is filled with stage equipment and a curtain, framing the scene. The drawing captures the atmosphere of engagement associated with public shows. The use of shading and line gives depth and texture to the image, highlighting the expressions of the audience and the allure of the performers.
Philip Cheney, Side Show, 1937, lithograph in black on wove paper, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1216

Side Show

Philip Cheney · 1937 · lithograph in black on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1216
This image depicts a person reclining against a tree. The person is lying back with their head and arms resting on the tree and their legs crossed and elevated on an adjacent surface. The individual has short hair, a mustache, and is wearing a long-sleeved shirt and loose-fitting pants. The background features stylized tree trunks and foliage, with patterns resembling leaves on the ground. The image is done in a graphic, monochromatic style with strong contrasts between light and dark areas.
Philip Cheney, Retired Southern Style, c. 1936, woodcut, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1222

Retired Southern Style

Philip Cheney · c. 1936 · woodcut ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1222
This is a drawing of a group of hunters chasing a stag. The hunters are depicted in dynamic poses with rifles, while the stag is portrayed prominently in the foreground. The stag appears majestic and large, with detailed shading on its antlers and face. The hunters are shown in positions of readiness, creating a sense of tension and pursuit. The drawing uses contrasts of light and shadow to convey depth and movement.
Philip Cheney, Big Game Hunters, 1936, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1215

Big Game Hunters

Philip Cheney · 1936 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1215
The image shows a street view from the perspective of someone on a sidewalk looking towards an urban intersection. A building dominates the view with glass windows and reflective surfaces. The base of the buildings is at street level. The street has parked vehicles from an earlier era. The illustration features fine and detailed brushwork, depicting city architecture and urban life dynamics. The color palette is monochromatic with blacks, whites, and grays, emphasizing the cityscape's contrast and shadows. Pedestrians are visible at a distance, providing scale and liveliness to the scene.
Philip Cheney, 12th & Market Streets, Phila., c. 1939, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1217

12th & Market Streets, Phila.

Philip Cheney · c. 1939 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1217
This is a drawing of the interior of an abandoned structure. Light is coming through a broken roof, casting shadows on wooden beams and rubble on the ground. The perspective shows remnants of the roof and supports above debris. The pencil technique captures a sense of decay and abandonment, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
Philip Cheney, Abandoned Mine at Blackhawk, 1935, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1218

Abandoned Mine at Blackhawk

Philip Cheney · 1935 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1218
This is a drawing of an industrial scene featuring machinery and a large structure. The image presents a detailed depiction of a steam shovel in the foreground. It showcases large metal gears, wheels, and a substantial bucket attachment. The setting appears to be an industrial site with a massive structure in the background. The drawing captures the mechanical details and scale of industrial machinery from an era where such equipment symbolized progress and innovation. Shading and cross-hatching in the drawing bring depth to both the machinery and surrounding architecture.
Philip Cheney, The Steam Shovel, 1934, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1220

The Steam Shovel

Philip Cheney · 1934 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1220
This is a drawing of an industrial scene featuring machinery and a docked ship. The image shows cranes, a large ship with a funnel emitting smoke, and various mechanical parts. The drawing emphasizes details such as levers, cables, and wheels, creating a dynamic industrial atmosphere. The scene conveys industrial advancement, possibly in a dockyard or factory, exuding industriousness and mechanical prowess. The use of black and white tones adds drama and enhances the texture of metal surfaces and shadows.
Philip Cheney, Gas Buoeys [sic], 1933, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.1219

Gas Buoeys [sic]

Philip Cheney · 1933 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.1219
The image shows an elevated view looking down over a scene with a long bridge or causeway crossing a wide body of water. The bridge stretches into the distance towards a series of hills. The horizon is marked by hills meeting the sky. The artwork has detailed linework typical of etching or lithography, creating textures in the landscape like trees and water. It has a monochromatic color palette using various shades of gray. Near the viewer are buildings by the water and leafless trees. In the distance, the bridge leads the eye over the water towards hills and sky.
Philip Cheney, Railroad along the Hudson, Bayside, New York, lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.2789

Railroad along the Hudson, Bayside, New York

Philip Cheney · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1943.3.2789
This is a drawing of an interior with exposed beams and rubble. The scene shows a network of wooden beams and structures, with dappled light and shadows. There is a pathway made of planks leading into the space. To the right, a pile of stones or debris is stacked against a low brick or stone wall. The drawing uses contrasts of light and dark to create a textured depiction of the space.
Philip Cheney, Abandoned Mine at Blackhawk, lithograph, Rosenwald Collection, 1943.3.2788

Abandoned Mine at Blackhawk

Philip Cheney · lithograph ·  Accession ID  1943.3.2788