The Bashful Cousin
c. 1841-1842
Step into a cozy, sunlit 19th-century kitchen where a young man, clutching his straw hat like a lifeline, is being proudly paraded by a woman in a vibrant red dress. His wide-eyed, bashful expression suggests he's entirely out of his depth, while in the background, an older couple at the breakfast table pauses their morning routine—the woman pointing accusingly and the man peering over his newspaper—to take in the spectacle. Even the family dog seems more interested in sniffing the floor than greeting the awkward visitor. Edmonds, a banker-turned-painter, loved capturing these humorous, everyday American moments with the meticulous detail and dramatic lighting of the Dutch Old Masters he so admired.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York