The Music Lesson
John George Brown American, born England
At a time when women were gaining independence from their traditional roles as wives and mothers and birthrates were dropping, Brown celebrated romance and marriage by depicting music making, an approved activity for courting couples. Underscoring the message of potential nuptials are several details in the well-furnished middle-class parlor: the planter filled with ivy, which could signify women who cling to men for support; the harp, a common symbol of love; and the framed picture of a haloed female figure. The couple’s complementary attire and shared concentration signal their compatibility.
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