The artwork, titled “Scene IV – Tongue. Couple Arguing,” was created by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge in 1877. It belongs to the Kitsch art movement and falls under the illustration genre. This piece is part of the series “The Tale of a Wedded Life, in Ten Scenes.”
The artwork vividly captures a domestic scene featuring a couple engaged in an argument. The man is seated, holding a pipe and a sleeping baby, his expression one of dour resignation. His head is turned away from his partner, indicating a lack of engagement. The woman, also seated and facing in the opposite direction, appears to be mending clothes, her face marked by frustration or sadness. The background is sparse, focusing viewer’s attention on the couple’s emotions and body language. The gritty, textured style of the illustration emphasizes the raw and strained nature of the couple’s relationship.
