Drudgery Collection

Scrooge Sees Marley Face
Scrooge is startled to see Marleys face on his door, instead of the knocker

Cinderella by Arthur Rackham
Ella, aka Cinderella, sitting in rags with a broom in her hand. Date: 1919

Kitchen Cabinet Advert
Still wearing her wedding dress, a bride admires the Hoosier Kitchen Cabinet which will help her to stay young because it will save her so much kitchen drudgery

Woman Housewife Washing Dishes (1970 1970s) Dishwasher Kitchen Retro
UNITED STATES - Circa 1960s: Woman Housewife Washing Dishes (1970 1970s) Dishwasher Kitchen Retro

Hudson's Soap Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for R. S. Hudson Limited, which shows a hooded girl leaning on a wall, smiling, with a basket containing a packet of Hudson's soap. Text reads

Victorian London - Newgate Prison Exercise Yard
" Vintage engraving showing a scene from 19th Century London England. Prisoners walk round the exercise yard at Newgate Prison, circa 1870."

Peasant Woman Carrying Two Bundles of Hay, 1883 (oil on canvas)
1068798 Peasant Woman Carrying Two Bundles of Hay, 1883 (oil on canvas) by Pissarro, Camille (1830-1903); 73.4x60x8.9 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas

Leaving the Office at 4 o clock, c. 1830 (colour engraving)
CHT268794 Leaving the Office at 4 o clock, c.1830 (colour engraving) by Monnier, Henri Bonaventure (1779-1877) (after); Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

The Washerwomen Returning from the Wash House, late 19th century (colour litho)
CHT173530 The Washerwomen Returning from the Wash House, late 19th century (colour litho) by Steinlen, Theophile Alexandre (1859-1923); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Sunlight Soap advertisement, 1903
Advertisement for Sunlight soap, manufactured by Lever Brothers at Port Sunlight. This particular advert emphasises the appliance of science to ensure its cleansing capabilities - a picture of an

Community heating by G. H. Davis
Community heating: a system which keeps an entire town warm and abolishes household drudgery. A central power station provides a day

The passage of romance
The Passage of Romance! - Before, During (" Yum Yum" ) and After. The passage from the carefree chase, the early spring of passion and the descent into household drudgery and daily ennui

Millstone
Antique illustration of a Millstone

Between 6 and 7 O clock in the Morning, Summer (w / c on paper)
XCF306869 Between 6 and 7 O clock in the Morning, Summer (w/c on paper) by Scharf, George the Elder (1788-1860); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

Between 5 O clock and 6 O clock in the Morning, 1840 (w / c on paper)
XCF282038 Between 5 O clock and 6 O clock in the Morning, 1840 (w/c on paper) by Scharf, George the Elder (1788-1860); Private Collection; German, out of copyright

Housewife doing dishes at kitchen sink, (B&W)

Washing day, laundry drying, Castello, Venice, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Maid Packs her Bags
Unable to cope with the drudgery of being an Edwardian servant, the scullery maid packs her bags in her bedroom. Date: early 1900s (re-enactment)

Shaving foam
MODEL RELEASED. Shaving foam. Nineteen year old man squeezing shaving foam into his hand in preparation for shaving. Shaving is a method of hair removal (depilation)

Scrooge & Ghost
" You will be haunted, " resumed the ghost, " by three spirits." Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley

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"Unveiling the Face of Drudgery: A Journey through Time" In Charles Dickens' classic tale, "A Christmas Carol, " Scrooge's encounter with Marley's ghost reveals the haunting reality of drudgery. As we delve into Arthur Rackham's enchanting illustrations of Cinderella, we witness her relentless toil and servitude, trapped in a world consumed by monotony. Even in the bustling cityscape, where kitchen cabinet adverts promise convenience and efficiency, the image of a woman housewife washing dishes from the 1970s reminds us that drudgery persists despite technological advancements. Yet, as Hudson's Soap advertisement alludes to, there is hope for liberation from this mundane existence. The Sunlight Soap advertisement from 1903 captures a glimmer of respite amidst daily chores. It showcases how even small moments can bring joy and relief from endless routines. Similarly, G. H Davis' depiction of community heating highlights collective efforts to alleviate burdensome tasks that plague individuals alone. However, not all tales end on such optimistic notes. Retribution stares back at us through an oil painting from 1880—a stark reminder that drudgery often accompanies punishment or consequence for one's actions. Victorian London's Newgate Prison exercise yard further emphasizes the harsh realities faced by those trapped within society’s unforgiving grasp. Yet amidst these struggles emerges resilience and determination. Peasant Woman Carrying Two Bundles of Hay depicts an individual bearing immense physical labor but refusing to succumb entirely to despair—finding strength within themselves against overwhelming odds. Finally, Leaving the Office at 4 o'clock transports us back to early nineteenth-century England—an era when escaping work before dusk was considered a luxury rather than an expectation. This engraving serves as both a testament to progress made over time while also reminding us that drudgery has long been embedded in our societal fabric.