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Politics in an Oyster House, 1848. Creator: Richard Caton Woodville
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Politics in an Oyster House, 1848. Creator: Richard Caton Woodville
Politics in an Oyster House, 1848. After their meal, the younger of the two figures, bearded and wearing his top hat indoors, leans across the table, counting arguments off on the fingers of one hand and clasping the newspaper that fuels his opinions in the other. The older man, balding, ruddy-faced, and red-nosed, warmed by the liquor in his half-empty glass, looks out with amusement at the viewer. The booth in which they are seated, with its red privacy curtain pulled aside, creates a shallow proscenium stage for this scene of intergenerational argument. The characters are engaged with the politics of their time
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Media ID 36365926
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1840s Amused Arguing Argument Bench Benches Booth Catering Curtain Cuspidor Discussing Discussion Disputing Distracted Distraction Face To Face Listening Oil On Fabric Position Preoccupied Restaurant Richard Caton Woodville Richard Caton Woodville I Richard Caton Woodville Senior Richard Caton Woodville The Elder Seating Soft Furnishing Speaking Spitoon Talking Top Hat Tophat Umbrella Umbrellas Walters Art Museum Woodville Richard Caton Woodville Richard Caton I Woodville Richard Caton The Elder
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EDITORS COMMENTS
Richard Caton Woodville's Politics in an Oyster House, painted in 1848, captures the essence of intergenerational political discord in 19th century America. The younger man, with a thick beard and wearing his top hat indoors, passionately counts off his arguments on one hand while clutching a newspaper. His intensity is met with amusement from the older man, balding and with a ruddy face, red nose, and half-empty glass of liquor. The dimly lit booth, with its red privacy curtain pulled aside, creates an intimate and shallow proscenium stage for their heated exchange. The setting of the oyster house adds to the scene's authenticity, as the characters engage in serious discussion over the politics of their time. Accessorized with a cuspidor and benches, the interior is reminiscent of the popular catering establishments of the era. The oil on fabric painting, a testament to the heritage art movement, transports us back to a time when politics was a topic of conversation over a meal. The contrasting expressions on the faces of the two men, the older man looking out at the viewer with a sense of amusement and the younger man preoccupied with his newspaper, add depth to the painting. The clothing and apparel of the men, with their fashionable dress and clothing, further emphasize the historical context of the scene. Politics in an Oyster House is a masterpiece from the Dusseldorf School in North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, and a prime example of Woodville's ability to capture the nuances of human emotion and interaction. The painting invites us to reflect on the enduring nature of political disagreements and the importance of open dialogue in shaping our society.
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