Baby in Wicker Basket c. 1840

Joseph Whiting Stock painted "Baby in Wicker Basket" in the style of a folk portrait, a type of work made by largely self-taught itinerant artists in nineteenth-century America. Stock was one such artist, who traveled around rural areas to paint portraits of middle-class families. He would often paint babies and children, as these were popular subjects for portraits at the time. This painting shows a baby in a blue dress, lying in a wicker basket with a patterned blanket, and holding a teething ring. The clothing and blanket signify some degree of affluence, suggesting a family that could afford such luxury items and the expense of commissioning a portrait. Although the child appears passive and serene, portraits like this could be seen as asserting the family's social status. The historian can bring together diverse resources, such as census records, fashion history, and economic data, to explore the nuances of this image. By looking at the social and cultural context in which the painting was made, we can understand its meanings for both the artist and his patrons.