In Trouble

Touching The Art

In Trouble

1/23/2011

Below are a few questions to help you in your reading.

-How does the boy feel? (What details show this?)

-What might the man in the red jacket be saying to him?

-Why is the boy in trouble? What did he do?

-What might the man in black be saying to his friend?

-How do the two adults responses to what the boy has done differ?

-Can you think of a time when you've been like one or the other?

If you have questions, suggestions for a theme, or interesting observations (like an explanation for the pile of clothes), please share them in the comments section!

I'll have my reading up soon!

9 Comments

David Batson

2/3/2011 11:24:38 am

The man in red is castigating the boy. The boy is dutifully bowing his head but still looking askance at the man in red. He is confused, conflicted. He feels he should be ashamed but does not understand why. The man in black is providing a counter point to the haranguement. "Perhaps you are being too hard on the boy." But he lacks the courage of his convictions. The man in red wins. The man in red is Kant.

kelleyn link

2/5/2011 08:14:19 pm

The man in red is the boy's father, which the artist has made clear by giving them the same hairline, and he's disciplining the boy. He's explaining to him why what he did was wrong and what the consequences will be. The boy is intimidated, but hasn't yet accepted that he is in the wrong. His posture is cowed and he's gripping the chair arm, but he's glaring sideways with indignation at the father. The man in black is laughing. He's doubled over and is suppressing a smile. He has his face turned away because he doesn't want to undermine the legitimate discipline the father is dealing out, but he is somewhat removed from the situation and can acknowledge the humor in it. He knows that kids will be kids; perhaps he's thinking of the antics of his own children, or of himself at that age. He even seems a little bit impressed by the boy's curiosity. I've felt like that when I've found where my kitty has emptied one of the drawers under the water bed to make a warm place for herself to curl up. At first I thought the boy was in trouble for tearing through the closet to either look for hidden presents or to make a fort out of the clothes, but I don't know what the striped object in the chair is, and I think that's the key to understanding this painting. My best guess is that it's a hooped petticoat, and the boy is in trouble not just for getting into things, but specifically for going on a panty raid of sorts. If so, maybe the man in black is realizing that the boy will soon be growing up.

YLiang

2/7/2011 11:51:02 am

Hi, thanks for posting this and the other wonderful paintings on your blog. A technical point: I cannot see the detail of what the boy is holding, and what is in the pile of clothes, etc. Is it possible to get a better look at those items? Also, I'd like to make a request for a reading of Delaroche's _The Execution of Lady Jane Grey_. Thanks in advance.

Amy link

2/7/2011 09:56:42 pm

The object in the boy's hand looks like chalk, and I believe the door on the right is covered in chalk scribbling. The man in red is holding out his hand towards the door, pointing it out to the boy. I suspect the boy also made the mess of clothing and papers in the room. I don't think the man in black is laughing. He is smiling, and looking at the door. His hand is just over the man in red's arm, as if he has just touched or is about to touch him. I think he is just about to touch him. Maybe he is the boy's teacher (he is holding a portfolio) and he has seen something on the door that mitigates the boy's crime. Maybe the boy has written his first word, and the man in black is about to say, "Wait! Look at this before you punish him." Or maybe he just sees the chalking as the boy's attempt to write instead of malicious behavior.

Assume positive intent!

Luc Travers

2/14/2011 10:10:05 am

@Kellyn. Nice observation about the hairline-I hadn't notice that! And I like this line: "The boy is intimidated, but hasn't yet accepted that he is in the wrong."

@Amy. Great summary of a lesson: "Assume positive intent!" And you're definitely on to something with looking closely at what the boy doodled on the door... can you make out what the boy was drawing?

Luc Travers

2/14/2011 10:12:34 am

@Liang. Thanks for bringing Jane Grey up! It's been years since I'd seen it, and I think I now have an image of the one of the slimiest villains I've seen in art!

Amy link

2/14/2011 11:19:28 am

Is it a copy of the portrait in the background?

Amy

8/4/2011 04:50:11 am

Hey, we're still waiting for your reading!

Luc

9/29/2011 04:04:24 pm

My new YouTube video featuring this painting is up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VprmlNW1FcE

In Trouble

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