The Magic Lantern

Auguste Edouart

ca. 1835 · Cut paper and wash · Drawings and Prints

In this work, figures gather in the family parlor around a scene emanating from a magic lantern, an early form of image projection that used hand-painted glass slides, a bright light source, and a lens-based device. Included in the group are three children who react with excitement, one of whom is raised up toward the projection by a nurse. At the lower left is a man with a peg leg who plays music from a serinette, a portable instrument consisting of a barrel organ, to accompany the entertainment. Above him, a young man peeks cautiously from behind the door, his features and clothing suggesting that he is a servant of African descent.

Artist

Auguste Edouart

Date

ca. 1835

Medium

Cut paper and wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Bequest of Mary Martin, 1938