The Lovers
1855
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1855
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
You see two people kissing in a dim room—one in a red dress, the other in dark clothes. Frith painted this small scene in 1855, right when photography was new. He used quick brushstrokes, almost like a snapshot, instead of the smooth finish most artists wanted then. The board he painted on was cheap and easy to carry, so he could work fast, catching a private moment before it slipped away. Look up *impasto* to see how thick paint can make a picture feel alive.
