Art Friday: Work

The village tailor by Albert Anker (1894)

Art Friday: Work

When we climb into our car,  walk around our homes,  prepare the evening meal, visit the doctor when we are sick, do we ever think of all the people that make things happen.  The farmers, the scientists, the construction workers, the manufacturers, the people who work in retail and in offices, the road builders, the doctors and even the lady at my local library. They all contribute to make the world turn round and without them we would all be in a pickle.

A coal miner by Norman Rockwell

We have an army of workers who get up every day and go to work to provide everything we need. Without them, the economies of the world would collapse and you or I would not be able to buy the milk we need, the meat we have for dinner, the books we read, the medicines that keep us alive or even the shoes on our feet.

Today I would like to remember the workers. Most don't go to work because they love their job or to go on a grand holiday (just think of the man who collects your garbage) - they go to earn a wage to support their families.

But think of those in the 19th century where coming home wasn't always guaranteed as mortality rates were very high in some occupations such as mining.

Factory workers (Switch Works), 1945

Teachers - painting by Haddon Sundblom

For those women who didn't marry in the 19th century, teaching (or being a governess) was considered to be a very suitable and ladylike occupation. 

Miners (Homeward) by Frank C Kirk (1930s)

Between 1850 and 1914, over 90,000 men and boys died in the United Kingdom from mining accidents. Many more were injured. This was one of the most dangerous occupations (and still is in many countries ) and without these men, the Industrial Revolution wouldn't have happened. At that time, 1 in every 10 men worked in the mines in the UK.  Sadly two miners died this week in Australian mines, it is still a dangerous occupation. 

Farming (Gathering potatoes) by George Clausen (1887)

Farming is hard work and for many centuries the lack of technology as we know today made it back breaking and very tough. Many women worked the land along side their husbands - especially at harvest time. 

Construction workers (Skyscraper) by Owen Smith

Fisherman - Jose Mongrell Torrent

The postman

Woman ironing by Edgar Degas

Most women from the lower classes in 19th century Britain either worked as domestic servants or in the factories. They worked, not by choice but in order to help support their families. It was hard labour and involved very long hours.  Some servants worked from 5am to 10pm at night. 

By 1870 (in the US), almost a million women were employed in domestic serve. 

Window washer by Norman Lerner (1950s)

The Optician by Paul Albert Guillaume

Mending the nets by Winslow Homer (1881)

Sometime life became even tougher when workers were laid off or went on strike to fight for better conditions. We can thank many of these men for the conditions we have today because they were willing to stand up and say no.  It often cost them their homes and everything dear. 

On Strike by Hubert von Herkomer

No work in the Victoria era =  no money which resulted in no homes for many families.  Life wasn't pretty as the following two paintings illustrate. Tragically many ended up in the Workhouses and many never left - a living hell.  We can thank the changes to the welfare system in Britain that led to the current system we have today. At least if one looses their job today they have some assistances to lean on - however many do still loose their homes as they can no longer afford to pay the mortgage. 

Out in the Cold by Leon Bazile Perrault

Homeless by Thomas Kenningston

High mortality rates among workers during the Industrial Revolution, especially those men and women working in factories where employers had never heard of the concept of work health and safety left many children orphaned.  Whilst many paintings portray the Victoria Era is beautiful and delicate, for many it was nothing like that. 

Orphans by Thomas Kenningston (1885)

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