A Child's Menagerie 1859

"A Child's Menagerie" (1859) by Eastman Johnson depicts a young girl seated in a chair in a modestly furnished room. The scene is filled with domestic details, from the girl's dress to the bird perched on a stand and the cat perched atop a cage holding a fishbowl. This genre painting captures the quiet solitude of everyday life, and Eastman Johnson’s attention to detail brings a sense of intimacy and realism to the scene. This painting is a perfect example of 19th-century American realism and conveys a sense of warmth and gentle nostalgia.