De Scott Evans
American, 1847–1898
The Irish Question
INV-1817
De Scott Evans
American, 1847–18981880s
The Irish Question
De Scott Evans American, 1847–1898 →Realismpainting
Date
1880s
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
30.5 × 25.4 cm (12 × 10 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Carol W. Wardlaw and Jill Burnside Zeno; Roger and J. Peter McCormick Endowment Fund
A seemingly uncomplicated representation of two potatoes suspended by a string against a wood panel, The Irish Question is an unusual and striking trompe l’oeil painting that raises numerous questions. The title may refer to the troubled status of the Irish in the late 19th century; the hanging potatoes inflect this allusion with either ominous overtones or a dark sense of humor. Illusionistic paintings such as The Irish Question offer an enjoyable form of visual deception, and the pseudonymous signature “S.S. David” suggests that De Scott Evans relished the opportunity to puzzle his viewers on many levels.
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