Artwork
Strawberry Pedlar
Strawberry Pedlar is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist William P. Chappel. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting’s composition and subject align with genre scenes of the period, emphasizing everyday experiences and modest prosperity.
Strawberry Pedlar depicts a man and woman outdoors with a basket of strawberries and a dog, set against a modest house. The strawberries, prominently displayed, likely reference abundance and seasonal harvest in mid-19th-century America. The inclusion of a dog suggests companionship or rural domesticity.
The scene captures a fleeting moment of exchange or gathering, evoking themes of agrarian life and simple pleasures. The painting’s composition and subject align with genre scenes of the period, emphasizing everyday experiences and modest prosperity.
Technique & Style
Strawberry Pedlar is executed in oil on slate paper, a relatively unconventional support that lends the small-scale genre scene a distinctive surface character. The work measures 15.6 by 23.5 centimeters, a modest format suited to its intimate subject matter depicting a man, woman, dog, house, and strawberries. Chappel's handling of the oil medium on this prepared paper support allows for the fine detail characteristic of his genre scenes, while the compact dimensions and horizontal orientation focus attention on the figures and their interaction.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified within The American Wing.
History & Provenance
The painting Strawberry Pedlar is attributed to William P. Chappel and dated to 1870. It was created as an oil on slate paper and depicts a genre scene featuring strawberries, a dog, a house, a man, and a woman. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued with dimensions of 15.6 cm in height and 23.5 cm in width. No documented commission or early ownership history beyond its institutional custody is recorded in available sources.
William P. Chappel's 1870 oil painting Strawberry Pedlar is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. The work depicts a genre scene featuring a man, a woman, a dog, and strawberries. While the provided records confirm its presence in the museum and its creation date, they do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.
Additionally, the available sources do not document any exhibition history for the painting, leaving its display record outside the scope of the current data.
Overview
Strawberry Pedlar is an oil painting on slate paper by Chappel, depicting a common street scene in 1870s Brooklyn. The artwork captures a woman carrying a tray of strawberries, navigating a dirt road lined with wooden houses. This piece offers a glimpse into the daily lives of ordinary New Yorkers, reflecting the artist's interest in documenting the unadorned realities of the era. It is housed within the American Wing, representing a specific period of American art.
Artist & collection
