The Guardians of the House, or the Friends of the Saltimbanque

1875

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Guardians of the House, or the Friends of the Saltimbanque is a 1875 by Félix-Hilaire Buhot, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Félix-Hilaire Buhot
When & what style?: 1875 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a small dog sitting in front of a wagon, while a cow stands nearby. The wagon looks old, with a curved roof and simple wooden walls. Scraps of paper and a few scattered leaves lie on the ground around them. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show movement and texture, like the dog’s fur or the wagon’s wood. This style was common in the 1800s for capturing everyday life. Next, look up Realism to see more works like this one.