Scene IV - Tongue. Couple Arguing 1877

Cassius Marcellus Coolidge created this artwork titled "Scene IV - Tongue. Couple Arguing", a black and white drawing, sometime before 1934. It is visually dominated by the stark contrast between light and shadow, emphasizing the emotional chasm between the couple. The composition is structured around the backs of two figures seated in chairs, physically close yet psychologically distant. Coolidge employs stark lines and shading to intensify the visual narrative of marital discord. The man, pipe in mouth and cradling a baby, is drawn with sharp, almost aggressive lines. His expression is detached, creating a contrast with the vulnerable infant in his arms. Conversely, the woman, needle in hand, seems consumed by resentment. The texture of their clothing, rendered in meticulous detail, adds a layer of domestic realism that starkly contrasts with the underlying tension. This piece challenges conventional notions of domestic bliss. Coolidge uses the formal elements to create a semiotic space where the visual signs of domesticity – the baby, the sewing – become symbols of conflict and alienation, reflecting broader social anxieties about marriage and family.