Waiting for a Bite, Central Park c. 1886

John George Brown probably painted "Waiting for a Bite, Central Park" sometime in the late 19th century. At this time, Brown was an established artist, celebrated for his genre scenes of everyday American life, particularly his idealized depictions of working-class children. This painting offers a glimpse into the romanticized vision of childhood that was popular during the Gilded Age. The young boy in the painting is presented as innocent and carefree, a stark contrast to the realities of child labor and poverty faced by many children at the time. Brown’s work often glossed over these harsh realities. He instead focused on creating sentimental images that appealed to the sensibilities of a middle-class audience. It’s interesting to consider how Brown, an English immigrant, chose to represent American childhood. He may have been reinforcing certain narratives about American identity and opportunity. There is a complex interplay between social class, childhood, and the artist's own identity. Brown's paintings leave us to wonder about the stories left untold.