Portrait of a Girl with Bisque Doll, c. 1868
Oil on canvas Seymour J. Guy, American, 1824–1910 Gift of Theodore E. and Susan Cragg Stebbins 15 x 11 3/4 in. (2019-009:6)
This portrait conveys a sense of unease. The girl appears frozen, much like the doll she cradles in her arm. The child, whose off-the-shoulder dress and perfectly styled hair mirror the doll’s, seems almost doll-like herself. Her cheeks appear warm and rosy, yet she lacks the vitality and joy often found in Guy’s depictions of children. The portrait carries with it a feeling of discomfort, both for the sitter and the viewer who becomes aware of the child’s unhappiness.