Children Playing

This watercolor's undulating mounds and hillocks contribute to an overall sense of rhythm and movement built up by the whirling arms and legs of the children. The game being played by the youngsters has not been identified precisely, but it would appear to resemble a roughhouse-period pastime called Bait the Bear [note 1]. However, it should be noted that the four running figures are repeated nearly exactly in another Pinney watercolor in which the crouching child is replaced by a seated adult woman. Furthermore, in the related watercolor, the capture of an oversize butterfly hovering near the woman's feet appears to be the objective of the two children with raised hats at right. Because of the close similarity of poses, it is assumed that the Folk Art Museum's watercolor was produced about the same time as the other, which is signed by the artist and dated 1813 [Note 2].
Around her watercolors, Pinney frequently drew or painted a bordered oval that acts as a visual frame. Most likely she copied the format from period engravings, which often were similarly presented. It is assumed that this watercolor derives from such a print, possibly an illustration in a children's book, but to date the source remains unlocated.

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