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The Song of the Shirt, 1854 (oil on canvas)
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The Song of the Shirt, 1854 (oil on canvas)
659749 The Song of the Shirt, 1854 (oil on canvas) by Blunden, Anna E. (1830-1915); 47x39.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Song of the Shirt. Anna Elizabeth Blunden (1830-1915). Oil on canvas. Dated 1854. 47 x 39.5cm. The picture depicts an exploited seamstress, a common theme in Victorian social realist painting. It uses a verse from Song of the shirt by Thomas Hood (1799-1845) published in Punch Christmans 1843. - For only one short hour/To feel as I used to feel, /Before); Photo eChristies Images; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22409736
© Christie's Images / Bridgeman Images
082012upload 1950s Architectural Feature Arm Resting British Art Bun In Hair Chimney Chimney Piece Container Destitute English Art English Artist Exploitation Fifties Hair Bun Hair Style Hardship Leaning On Elbow Local Industry Looking Up Negative Concept Open Opressed Pre Raphaelite Art Raphaelite Seamstress Seamstresses Sewing Box Sewing Equipment Shirt Smokestack Social Issues Song Third Class Thomas Hood Thread Victorian Art Victorian Pictures View Through Worship Worshiping Worshipping 1954 Artist British British Artist Ethnic Origin Interior Decoration Pre Raphaelite Young Woman
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The Song of the Shirt, 1854
EDITORS COMMENTS
is a poignant oil painting by Anna E. Blunden that captures the harsh reality of Victorian-era exploitation. The artwork depicts a destitute seamstress, her weary face etched with sorrow and exhaustion. With an arm resting on a needle box, she leans on her elbow in prayerful contemplation. Blunden's composition draws inspiration from Thomas Hood's poem "Song of the Shirt" published in Punch Christmas in 1843. The verse chosen for this painting speaks to the longing for respite from ceaseless toil: "For only one short hour/To feel as I used to feel". The artist skillfully portrays the woman's poverty-stricken surroundings through meticulous attention to detail. A dimly lit room with threadbare furniture and an open window reveals an urban landscape beyond—a stark reminder of her confined existence. Through this powerful visual narrative, Blunden sheds light on social issues prevalent during that time—exploitation, poverty, and gender inequality. Her work exemplifies Victorian social realism art movement and serves as a testament to the struggles faced by working-class women. "The Song of the Shirt" remains relevant even today as it prompts us to reflect upon our own societal structures and how they impact those who are marginalized or oppressed. It stands as both a historical document capturing mid-19th-century realities and a timeless call for empathy towards those facing adversity.
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