Children in a Cart
1801 to 1825
Medium
watercolor on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 11.3 x 18.5 cm (4 7/16 x 7 5/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John Nichols Estabrook and Dorothy Coogan Estabrook
Accession Number
1988.20.14
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Myles Birket Foster’s “Children in a Cart,” created between 1801 and 1825, offers a charming glimpse into early nineteenth-century life through the delicate medium of watercolor on paperboard. Measuring just 11.3 by 18.5 centimeters, the small scale invites close viewing, allowing the translucent layers of pigment to reveal subtle textures and soft light effects that bring the scene to life. Watercolor’s portability and luminous quality made it especially popular for capturing fleeting moments of everyday existence. Here, the subject of children riding in a cart evokes themes of innocence, pl...