Parents 1984

"Parents" is a 1984 realist painting by American artist Bo Bartlett (b. 1955). The painting depicts a couple in a domestic setting, standing on either side of a table with a single cup and saucer. The man, dressed in a dark suit, stands with his back to the viewer, while the woman, wearing a green jacket and white dress, sits with her back to the man. This composition creates a sense of distance and emotional disconnect between the two figures, leaving the viewer to interpret their relationship and the unspoken tension in the room. Bartlett's keen attention to detail, characteristic of his realist style, is evident in the subtle rendering of light, texture, and form.