Artwork
Burnt Out
Burnt Out is an oil painting by the Realist artist Charles Felix Blauvelt. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1849, Burnt Out is an oil painting by American artist Charles Felix Blauvelt. The work is part of the collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts. It presents an intimate interior scene rendered in muted tones, inviting viewers to observe a quiet domestic moment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a mother seated on a green sofa, cradling an infant and a loaf of bread, while a young child rests his head on her lap. Both figures are dressed in modest clothing, and the woman's solemn expression suggests a mood of contemplation or hardship, emphasizing themes of familial care and domestic endurance.
Technique & Style
Blauvelt employs chiaroscuro, contrasting the soft, dim illumination with deeper shadows to model the figures and suggest depth within the sparse room. The palette of subdued colors and gentle lighting creates a calm atmosphere, while the careful handling of oil paint captures the textures of fabric, skin, and surrounding objects.
History & Provenance
Burnt Out was painted in the mid‑nineteenth century and has remained in the United States. It entered the Detroit Institute of Arts’ holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of genre painting from that era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Felix Blauvelt (1824–1900) was an artist, born in New York City.
