Little Girl in Lavender 1840

John Bradley, active in the first half of the 19th century in the United States, painted this portrait of a young girl. This was a time when the middle class was growing and asserting itself, and portraits like these were becoming more common as ways to display social status. The young girl is stiffly posed, holding a basket of flowers. The red roses contrast with the dark background and the girl's lavender dress, drawing our eye to her figure. Bradley was an itinerant painter, meaning he traveled from town to town, painting portraits for families who couldn't afford more established artists. What's interesting is that, although Bradley probably wasn't formally trained, he was part of a larger movement of folk art that challenged the established art institutions of the time. These self-taught artists were creating a uniquely American style of art, one that reflected the values and aspirations of the common people. To understand this context better, we can look into the history of American folk art and the social conditions that gave rise to it.