La malade imaginaire 1876

"La malade imaginaire" (1876) by William Powell Frith (1819-1909) is a genre painting depicting a scene from the French comedic play "The Imaginary Invalid" by Molière. The painting features a young woman lying in a bed, presumably feigning illness, while a doctor takes her pulse. The doctor's expression suggests skepticism, while the woman's companion looks on with amusement. Frith's meticulous attention to detail and focus on everyday life are characteristic of his work, which often sought to capture the social realities of Victorian England. This painting illustrates the themes of deceit, social expectations, and the absurdity of human behavior.