Unusual Silhouette of Family Disagreement

This is a cut and painted unsigned silhouette which is most unusual. It depicts a scene ripe for interpretation, two ladies clearly having a serious argument with much finger pointing and gesticulating. Meanwhile, the small child plays with the dog and appears oblivious of the row. One of the men seems to have burst in the argument whilst the other is a little more circumspect, hovering outside and not inclined to enter the room. The background is executed in pencil and appears to show the interior of the kitchen, with a tripod table, ladder back chair, and unused fireplace nook. The figures are all highlighted in gold to accentuate clothing and hair detail. We have the Apollo knot quite high on the head with loose curls to the front of the head and puffed sleeves on both dresses, as well as the rounded footwear dates the ladies attire to 1820. The men’s breeches cut low and with buttons give further evidence of the period 1820-30. Most family groups are shown as rather static and contrived compositions, so the activity in this picture is most unusual. A really lovely and relatively small silhouette, framed in a period maple moulding, sealed, and with barrier board between the rear of the image and the backboard.