Edward and Sarah Rutter (1805) by Joshua Johnson

Edward and Sarah Rutter - Joshua Johnson - 1805

Artwork Information

TitleEdward and Sarah Rutter
ArtistJoshua Johnson
Date1805
Art MovementNaïve Art (Primitivism)

About Edward and Sarah Rutter

The artwork, titled “Edward and Sarah Rutter,” was painted by Joshua Johnson in 1805. It belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and falls under the genre of portraiture.

This portrait displays two children, Edward and Sarah Rutter, set against a dark, plain background, which serves to highlight the subjects’ features and attire. Edward, standing on the left, is dressed in a formal black outfit adorned with a ruffled white collar and buttons. He holds a cardinal bird in his right hand, which appears to be a toy or a pet, suggesting a scene from daily life or playtime. Beside him stands Sarah, clothed in a simple white dress and red shoes that provide a striking contrast to her minimalistic outfit. She holds a small branch of cherries, indicating a sense of innocence and childlike wonder. The expressions on their faces are stoic and serious, characteristic of the portrait styles of the early 19th century. The artist’s use of detail and color subtly conveys the siblings’ personalities and their sociocultural context.

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