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The London Bathing Season, 1859
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The London Bathing Season, 1859
The London Bathing Season, 1859. Come, my dear! - come to its Old Thames, and have a Nice Bath! Father Thames is here shown trying to coax a climbing boy in to his water for a bath. Father Thames drips with a slow slime and on his back is the usual mangled kettle and dead cat. All around him are the dead animals floating on the surface of the sluggish water. Not unreasonably, the climbing boy holds his nose and does not relish the prospect of entering the filthy water of the Capitals river. A return of Punch to the terrible contamination of the River Thames. From Punch, or the London Charivari, June 18, 1859
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Media ID 14829277
© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images
Cats Corpse Dead Father Thames Feline Felines Heritage Image Partnership Kettle Allegorical Figure
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The London Bathing Season, 1859 - A Grim Reminder of the Filth and Contamination in the Capital's River
EDITORS COMMENTS
. This haunting print captures a pivotal moment in London's history - the infamous bathing season of 1859. In this satirical engraving from Punch, or the London Charivari, we witness Father Thames himself attempting to coax a young climbing boy into his murky waters for a bath. However, what should be an innocent act is tainted by the grim reality of the river's condition. Father Thames stands as an allegorical figure dripping with slow slime, carrying his usual mangled kettle and dead cat on his back. The surface of the sluggish water is littered with lifeless animals, emphasizing its terrible contamination. Unsurprisingly, our young protagonist holds his nose in disgust at the prospect of entering such filthy waters. This print serves as a scathing commentary on both public health concerns and political negligence during that era. Known as "The Great Stink" this period marked one of London's most notorious episodes when pollution reached unbearable levels. As we gaze upon this nineteenth-century heritage image partnership between satire and reality, it reminds us how far we have come in terms of sanitation and environmental awareness. It also urges us not to forget our past mistakes but rather learn from them to create a cleaner future for generations to come.
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