Wednesday 8th December - A Visit from the Hall

 Good morning! I'm feeling a little better today so I am up and busy before I run out of steam.  As we speak, there is washing in the washing machine and some bread being magicked into life in the bread machine (I am obsessive about my bread machine, it is magnificent) and Blossom is having a 'woofy' dream in the arm chair, so all is well at this moment.  Let's crack on with today's picture...

A Visit from the Hall (c.1855) Edwin Cockburn

Here we have the arrival of two posh ladies from 'the Hall' at the cottage of a woman and her two children...

  I wondered if the woman in blue was actually the lady's maid to the lady in the gold skirt? Possibly her daughter?  There is certainly a power dynamic going on as the blue lady is sat to the side of the gold-skirt lady, certainly as a background figure. The gold-skirt lady is the more important one, for sure.  Her skirt acts as a rich counterpoint to the little boy's pale smock...

Well, this little chap looks less than impressed with having to meet the local gentry.  It looks like it's reduced him to tears.  The little girl looks less than impressed too. Their mum is desperately trying to get her kids front and centre, to be respectful to their visitors.  I was wondering what the point of the visit was - the ladies from the Hall do not seem to have brought anything, which is a bit rude. Never turn up empty handed, especially if you are rich and can afford things like a rug for the floor.  I think the relationship between the dogs is far more telling...

The little black lap dog does not look sure about being near the terrier. He's sitting on a fold of his mistress's skirt, looking extremely dubious about his surroundings. The terrier doesn't look particularly vicious, but by the looks of that bone in the foreground, maybe he's a bit hungry and the little dog is sort of snack sized. The rich dog's attitude is the complete opposite of his mistress, who is commanding the room and causing the little boy to react with nervousness.  It is interesting that the little dog and the little boy, despite being opposite sides of the economic divide are reacting the same.  The poor family have good reason to be nervous - at any minute the land owners could turf them out of their hovel and they don't exactly look like they could afford to live anywhere else. The cottage is reasonably tidy, with the only things out of place the axe and wood to go on the fire.  There is a lot going on in the room, with clothes drying, bundles of wheat and herbs strung around the beams and a little pot plant on a table by the window.  They don't have much, but it is homely.  I had a moment's wonder if the gold-skirt lady was the sister of the Mum, in that Jane Austen way.  One sister has done well and the other not so much? However, I think this is straightforwardly tenant and landlord.  I'm sure everything will be fine, but I'm impressed that the dogs are involved in the class struggle.  Little posh dog is right to be aware of the power of the proletariat.  Come the glorious day, says the terrier, there will be dog biscuits for all. And a rug.

I'll catch you tomorrow, comrades...