Scene V - Muscle. Couple Fighting 1877

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge created this graphite drawing titled ‘Scene V – Muscle. Couple Fighting’ in 1877. The composition depicts a tense domestic conflict. Notice how Coolidge uses exaggerated forms and dynamic lines to convey the energy of this dispute. The visual structure of the artwork is rooted in a stark contrast between light and shadow. Observe the rough textures in the clothing and hair, achieved through energetic pencil strokes. These textures convey a sense of disorder and chaos, underscoring the combative mood. The woman, wielding a broom, and the man, with a raised fist, are caught in a moment of heightened tension. Coolidge employs caricature to challenge conventional notions of marital harmony. The composition does not offer a resolution; instead, it confronts viewers with a snapshot of raw conflict. This invites us to question the idealized representation of domestic life prevalent at the time. As such, the artwork disrupts traditional expectations.