Who painted "It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?"?

"It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?" was painted by James Henry Beard in 1893.

Where can I see "It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?"?

"It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?" is held by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

What movement is "It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?"?

"It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?" is associated with American Impressionism.

Artwork

"It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?"

James Henry Beard , 1893

"It Is Very Queer, Isn't It?" is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist James Henry Beard. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1893 by James Henry Beard, an American portraitist and National Academy of Design member, this oil painting is titled *It Is Very Queer, Isn’t It?*. The work belongs to the collection of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and is linked stylistically to the American Impressionist movement, though it diverges from Beard’s usual focus on human portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas presents a seated chimpanzee, poised in a red armchair and holding a newspaper, its gaze directed toward the viewer with a contemplative air. Flanking the figure are two skulls—one human atop a book, the other a chimpanzee on a table—introducing a memento mori element that juxtaposes humor with reflections on mortality.

Technique & Style

Beard employs loose, light‑filled brushwork characteristic of American Impressionism, rendering textures such as the plush upholstery and the glossy newspaper with a soft, atmospheric quality. The composition balances chiaroscuro on the figure and objects, while the muted background wall and fireplace recede, allowing the central chimpanzee to dominate the visual field.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where it remains on display. Its provenance reflects a late‑19th‑century interest in genre scenes that blend satire with social commentary, a trend that Beard explored beyond his conventional portrait commissions.

Context

The work emerges at a time when American artists were experimenting with humor and allegory within realist frameworks. By portraying an anthropomorphized animal alongside symbols of death, Beard anticipates later satirical treatments of human folly, contributing to a niche of American art that merges wit with moral reflection.

Artist & collection

Artist

James Henry Beard

James Henry Beard (April 22, 1812 – October 20, 1893) was an American portrait painter. He was elected as a member of the National Academy of Design in 1872.

Museum

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

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