The Broken Toy 1800 - 1860

Alfred Edward Chalon made this watercolor, "The Broken Toy," using fluid washes and delicate strokes of color on paper. Look closely, and you'll see how the light, almost translucent quality of watercolor lends itself well to capturing a scene of domestic drama. The broken toy itself, lying discarded on the ground, is rendered with a few deft strokes. Chalon, a noted portraitist, here captures an emotional tableau of childhood. But what does the work imply about the culture of consumption? The broken toy suggests a world where objects, even those meant for children, are readily available, yet perhaps not valued for their durability. The artist deftly evokes a sense of fleeting, almost disposable enjoyment of the object. The scene reminds us of the social dynamics embedded in something as simple as a child's plaything.