I Don't Like It! c. 19th century

Curator: Here we have George Baxter's "I Don't Like It!", origin unknown, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, its sentiment is immediately clear! The face is a study in childish discontent. The whole composition feels stiff, almost stage-like. Curator: The title certainly informs our reading. It speaks to a universal experience, the struggle against the unfamiliar or unpleasant. The fallen bird may symbolize innocence lost, perhaps mirroring the child's own emotional turmoil. Editor: I’m more intrigued by the table setting—the teapot and glassware. The lines create a static tension, almost a grid, that traps the child in her displeasure. Is this a critique of domestic ritual? Curator: Perhaps. Or it could be that these are simply the props of childhood drama, the stage upon which her emotions play out. Editor: A compelling theory. This artwork, despite its seeming simplicity, does invite a deeper look at how structure and emotions interplay. Curator: Precisely. It holds a mirror to our own experiences, prompting us to consider the origins and expressions of our own dislikes.