The Invalid
c. 1868-1870
Sunlight streams into a dimly lit room where a young woman lounges in bed, looking more bored than bedridden. Her bedside table is cluttered with an army of medicine bottles, while a cat dozes at the foot of the bed. A crumpled letter dangles from her hand, hinting at a romantic drama that might be the real cause of her condition. In the mirror to the left, a man's reflection watches over the scene, adding a touch of mystery to this detailed slice of 19th-century domestic life.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum