14. Nov, 2022
New Additions
14/11/2022.
A reminder to you that I am constantly adding new items to my collection, and new images to this website. For example, this week, amongst other additions, I have put three postcard images of crofts on North Uist in the 'House Photos' page, and this superb etching by William Strang of girls lifting potatoes (see above). Strang was born in Dumbarton in 1859, but moved to London in 1875. The etching is found in a number of museums, including the Met, and the British Museum, the latter stating that the final impression was published in 'The Portfolio', October 1882. There is no indication of where the labouring is taking place, but the bare feet of the women suggests to me somewhere north of the border, rather than in England. I know of no image that depicts better the struggle of labouring women at that time, conveyed in part by the angle of the two girls in the foreground, one bent back as she deposits her heavy load on the cart, and the other forwards. The image reflects Strang's interest in Socialism, a political movement that was gaining momentum during the 1880s.