Artwork
Open Your Mouth and Shut Your Eyes
Open Your Mouth and Shut Your Eyes is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist William Mulready. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The oil painting titled Open Your Mouth and Shut Your Eyes depicts a young adolescent girl seated at a table, poised to take a bite while her eyes are closed. The composition captures a quiet, intimate moment of hesitation, with the subject’s expression balancing fear and curiosity.
Subject & Meaning
The work draws on an old nursery rhyme that advises, “Open your mouth, shut your eyes, and see what Providence will send you.” By shifting the proverb’s context to teenage years, the artist suggests a rite of passage in which the viewer contemplates the uncertainty of new experiences.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting employs a glazing technique that builds depth through translucent layers, giving the flesh tones a luminous quality. The subdued palette and soft brushwork reinforce the scene’s contemplative atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The piece is believed to have been created as a companion to the artist’s earlier work, The Sonnet, indicating a thematic pairing. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s studio, though further exhibition history remains undocumented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
