Interior with Figures before a Fireplace 1871

Charles Baugniet's "Interior with Figures before a Fireplace" (1871) is a pencil drawing depicting a domestic scene. The composition showcases a group of women and children gathered around a fireplace in a sparsely furnished room, likely a drawing room. The artist's loose and gestural style emphasizes the informality of the subject, suggesting a snapshot of everyday life. This intimate sketch, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, demonstrates Baugniet's ability to capture natural poses and fleeting moments, a characteristic of his genre scenes.