Mid-Morning Art Thread [Kris]

The Widower
Edward Lamson Henry

For the most part, the subject matter of Edward Lamson Henry’s (1841 - 1919) artwork are mostly scenes of everyday life, generally cheery and humorous, and focusing on a type of nostalgic Americana. In some ways, Henry’s work reminds me of Norman Rockwell. And like Rockwell, although he was known for his merrier pieces, occasionally he dabbled in serious subjects. One of these is The Widower.

In The Widower, an old man sits alone in a dark room next to a small table set for tea. The title of the painting already gives us a hint about the mood, but even without it, details scattered throughout the painting communicate loss, loneliness, and memory. A small table set for two sits just off-center and lit by the sunlight streaming through an open window. At one end sits the man with his back to the viewer and shoulders slumped. His bent shoulders make him look tired, possibly from age, but also emotionally. The man doesn’t seem to be doing anything. He just sits there. I see a person alone, lost in thought in a cozy but dark room, and I feel guilty for trespassing on his private moment. A large, empty chair is opposite him at the table.

It looks like the wife died very recently. Tea seems to have been a daily ritual for this couple. He read his newspaper, and she sat in her comfy chair and did whatever she did. They enjoyed each other’s company during this quaint, quiet time. In the painting, the table is still set for two but the newspaper is untouched at his feet. He just sits there. Alone.

I think the chairs are interesting and reveal some details about the couple. His is small and simple with a straight, hard back while the other is large and looks quite comfortable. The husband seems like a practical, sober, down-to-earth man. He’s not interested in luxury and prefers simplicity. The wife was softer and gentler and balanced out his hard edges. Her chair is positioned straight on at the table implying a direct or open personality. He is positioned sideways, present but maybe a little detached.

A dog lies in shadow under the table. Many times in art, a dog can symbolize fidelity and family ties. The animal is also partially covered by the tablecloth and reminds me of a burial shroud. This couple was close. He still loves her but his life is dark now.

The light coming through the window shines directly onto the tea setting. This makes the work sadder. The widower took the time to set this table up. He put out a cup and saucer in front of the empty chair. I have heard of people who have lost loved ones who continue routines or keep places just as the deceased left them as a way to hang onto them. I think he’s trying to do something similar here, but, to me, it just enhances the loneliness. The man is silhouetted by the light, emphasizing his pose and mood. Everything else in the room is in darkness.

Above the painting’s center is a woman’s portrait. Because of where it is in the painting, I think it’s a portrait of the late wife. The woman in it is posed so that it seems she looks down at the widower. He is also facing the portrait but doesn’t — or can’t — look at it. The longing and loneliness feel raw. Next to the painting is a spent candle. Zooming in, I can see a blackened wick. Snuffed candles have long symbolized lost life or the passage of time.

The room depicted in the painting doesn’t look very big, but its shadows and single occupant make it seem larger. I say empty, but the room isn’t empty at all, not really. It is full of memory and emotion. I feel for this man. As described above, socially, this man would be stern and unemotional, and probably distant. In the privacy of his home, at a place where he probably was able to take off his armor, going about his daily routines, he let his true thoughts and feelings emerge. One of the things he did regularly was have tea with his wife. It was a small thing and probably one no one thought important. Now that she is gone, he continues the ritual to remember her. He loved his wife dearly and misses her deeply, and I feel guilty for witnessing it.

posted by Open Blogger at 09:30 AM

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