작품 상세

Attributed to Hoyt (American, late 19th/early 20th Century). This vintage mechanical animated display, historically identified as a Hoyt Life Picture, features a color lithograph on cardstock depicting a caricature of a Black man. The subject is rendered wearing a patterned bucket hat and a blue checkered shirt with suspenders. The artwork is designed as a novelty automaton with mechanical cutouts for the eyes and mouth. It is housed in a deep, dark-stained wooden shadowbox frame. The verso features a wooden enclosure containing an electric motor, belt-and-pulley system, and associated wiring intended to animate the facial features. A handwritten tag on the back provides dimensions and identifies the piece as part of a collection. 20.75 x 16 x 3.75 in. The lithograph surface shows visible adhesive tape residue on the background and minor discoloration consistent with age. The wooden shadowbox frame shows scuffing and small chips along the edges. The mechanical motor and animation system are currently non-functional. The electrical components are vintage and have not been tested for safety; professional inspection is recommended before use.