How Do We Look?

Posted by Maty Murray on July 21st 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Museum of Art

George Bellows (1882-1925), My Family, No. 2, 1921, lithograph

I had the pleasure of getting a sneak preview to the Museum of Art’s new exhibition, How Do We Look? American Couples, opening on Saturday, July 23, in the Otto Meyer Galleries. It looks great and is full of surprises, like miniatures and folk art paintings that are rarely shown, plus portraits grand and informal of some leading citizens—George Washington, for instance, looking cozy and domestic with Martha and the kids down on the farm at Mount Vernon. Same with artist George Bellows and his family.

Speaking of Georges, there are portrait drawings of Mr. and Mrs. George Clinton but it’s not the George of Funkadelic fame, rather the first New York State Governor and Vice-President who lived from 1739-1812.

Some of the couples are depicted with their children, who all look quite charming. Samuel Sexton’s picture, Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Wallace and Their Daughter, 1838, is a group portrait rather than individual his-n-hers. Mom has a doll-like quality with large eyes and an oversized head, and the artist added a sweet, naturalistic touch when he placed the little girl’s hand on her father’s leg. She seems protected, nestled between her seated folks, but also very curious as she looks out at us.

The exhibition’s text asks interesting questions to contemplate how men and women are depicted; he’s probably shown with books in a library while she may have sewing or a baby in her lap. Where she is placed in relation to him is also significant.

Enjoy spending some time with these folks and think about how we represent ourselves today, compared to then.

Unknown artist, portrait of a child, c. 1830