Portraits of Innovation: Paintings of Everyday Life during the Industrial Revolution. with Carolann Schmitt
Description
Tuesday May 13, 2025 7pm EST
Portraits of Innovation: Paintings of Everyday Life during the Industrial Revolution. with Carolann Schmitt
The mid-nineteenth century produced a great diversity of art, including a particular category illustrating scenes of everyday life known as genre or figurative paintings. Occasionally overlooked and frequently underappreciated, they are not a source that is commonly consulted. There are even those who caution against using art in general as a source for mid-nineteenth century research, even though it is perfectly acceptable for other eras that pre-date photography.
This presentation will examine mid-nineteenth century genre paintings as a source of information for the lives of citizens at work and at home, with a special emphasis on scenes reflecting the changes in everyday life created by the Industrial Revolution. We will consider their validity as a source of information for indoor and outdoor scenes, interior details domestic, commercial and industrial, for furnishings and fashions, and other aspects of everyday life during the era.
Can these paintings be used as a reliable source for information? Are they truly a reflection of everyday life? How can a painting filled with ‘stuff’ capture the sentiments, ideals, and obsessions of the citizens? What cautions should be
considered when using them as a source? Gain a new appreciation for an
overlooked source as we visit a virtual gallery of life during the Industrial
Revolution as viewed through mid-nineteenth century art.