Four ugly old women try to scrub a black man white with brushes, a kettle of boiling water, as steam billows around the room. A fifth woman brings buckets of hot water. A sixth, in the center background, drinks gin. The black man squats in a big tub, with a pained expression on his face
Description:
Title inscribed beneath central image., Attributed to George Cruikshank., Date inferred from the 1827 publication date of George Cruikshank's Illustrations of time, plate 3 of which includes a smaller version of the central image. Cf. No. 15472 in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum, v. 10., Image also used in Plate 3 of Cruikshank's 'Illustrations of Time'; the attempt to 'wash a black man white' was a traditional example of an impossible task., and On paper watermarked "J. Whatman 1821".
Subject (Topic):
Black people, Ethnic stereotypes, Racism, Wash tubs, and Brooms & brushes
"A kitchen scene. A handsome young cook in her mistress's hat and gown, worn over her own cap and petticoat, with her breast bared, postures in the kitchen before a hanging mirror, holding out a fan. Three amused girls (a woman with two young girls) watch her from behind a door (right). On the floor is a broken dish with a fish on which a cat has pounced, and to the right a rolling pin, fork and spoon. A floured pudding is ready for cooking. On the shelves behind her are plates, platters and mugs; above the door, a small keg, wine bottle, and crocks. On the floor near the door are brooms and buckets
Description:
Title etched below image. and Watermark: Ruse & Turners 1806.
Publisher:
Pubd. by S.W. Fores, No. 50 Piccadilly
Subject (Topic):
Brooms & brushes, Cats, Kitchens, Interiors, Mirrors, Role reversal, Tableware, and Women domestics
Volume 2, page 12. Collection of prints engraved by various persons of quality.
Image Count:
1
Resource Type:
still image
Alternative Title:
From an original drawing by Isaac Ostade
Description:
Title devised by curator., Mounted on page 12 in volume 2 of Horace Walpole's collection of amateur works entitled: A collection of prints engraved by various persons of quality., and Pasted beneath print is a strip of paper, likely trimmed from the verso of the same sheet, which bears a note in the printmaker's hand: The drawing with a pen by I. Ostade in possion. of J.T.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
Netherlands.
Subject (Topic):
Country life, Interiors, Fireplaces, Barrels, Pitchers, Cats, Violins, Brooms & brushes, and Hygiene
