Artwork
An Anxious Hour
An Anxious Hour is an oil painting by the Realist artist Alexander Farmer. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
An Anxious Hour is an 1865 oil painting by Alexander Farmer, part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a poignant domestic scene: a woman, wrapped in a red shawl and dark dress, attends to a child lying in bed, who looks up at her with evident concern. A nearby table with uneaten food suggests the child's illness or discomfort, capturing a moment of quiet, intimate worry.
Technique & Style
Farmer employs a subdued color palette and dim lighting to create a somber atmosphere, with shadows on the wall accentuating the sense of subdued concern. The contrast between the woman's red shawl and the child's white shirt draws the viewer's eye to the central figures.
History & Provenance
Created in 1865, the painting is characteristic of Farmer's focus on depicting everyday life. It is now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
Reflecting Farmer's propensity for capturing mundane yet emotionally resonant moments, An Anxious Hour aligns with the mid-19th-century interest in portraying the quieter aspects of domestic life.
Legacy
While not widely discussed in broad art historical narratives, the piece remains a representative example of Farmer's style and thematic preoccupations, offering insight into Victorian-era domesticity and the artist's approach to capturing emotional nuance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Farmer painted quiet, storytelling scenes in the 1860s, using oil paint to capture everyday moments with a hint of humor.
