Fish Wives Collection

Fishwives on the Beach at Scheveningen, c.1880-c.1885. Creator: Bernardus Johannes Blommers
Fishwives on the Beach at Scheveningen, c.1880-c.1885

Newhaven Pier: the fishing-boats arrived, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Newhaven Pier: the fishing-boats arrived, 1862....the fisheries are one of the chief natural resources of Scotland...At Newhaven, near Edinburgh

Newhaven fishermen and fishwives, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Newhaven fishermen and fishwives, 1862....the fisheries are one of the chief natural resources of Scotland...At Newhaven, near Edinburgh

Mrs. Logan and Two Unknown Women, Newhaven, 1843 / 47, printed c. 1916
Mrs. Logan and Two Unknown Women, Newhaven, 1843/47, printed c. 1916. Carbon print

Woman selling herring (colour litho)
3104153 Woman selling herring (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman selling herring)

Quay at Boulogne
3779473 Quay at Boulogne by Crane, Thomas (1808-59); (add.info.: Quay at Boulogne, France. Fishwives selling fish from wicker baskets they carry on their backs, wearing wooden clogs)

Woman with fish baskets, Llangwm (colour photo)
3102301 Woman with fish baskets, Llangwm (colour photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman with fish baskets, Llangwm)

Girl dressed as a matalote (colour litho)
3102593 Girl dressed as a matalote (colour litho) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girl dressed as a matalote)

Marche aux poissons (colour litho)
2791465 Marche aux poissons (colour litho) by Monnier, Henri Bonaventure (1779-1877) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marche aux poissons)

A Cornish fishwife (colour litho)
3104152 A Cornish fishwife (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Cornish fishwife)

Fish Wife in Banff (colour litho)
3102592 Fish Wife in Banff (colour litho) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fish Wife in Banff. Postcard, early 20th century.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

Woman selling herring from a barrow (colour litho)
3104158 Woman selling herring from a barrow (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman selling herring from a barrow)

Newhaven Fishwives, 1843-47. Creators: David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson
Newhaven Fishwives, 1843-47

Newhaven Fishwives, ca. 1845. Creators: David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson
Newhaven Fishwives, ca. 1845

Newhaven Fishwife, 1843-47. Creators: David Octavius Hill, Robert Adamson
Newhaven Fishwife, 1843-47

Southwold, Suffolk - Scottish fisher girls at work Date: circa 1910s

Fisherwoman of Le Touquet, France
Fisherwoman of Le Touquet, Paris-Plage, France Date: circa 1910s

Women gut Herring - Lowestoft, Suffolk
Women gut Herring at Lowestoft, Suffolk Date: circa 1910s

Scottish Fishwives
A jolly group of Scottish fishwives and some of their menfolk. One of the women plays the bagpipes

Billingsgate Brutes
A genre scene, seemingly charming. In reality a young woman at a doorway is intimidated by two stout Billingsgate fishwives into buying their stinking fish

Pretty Fish Girl
If you thought all fishwives are foul-mouthed and homely, think again - this Scottish lass proves the contrary

Grief in Fishing Village
Among the missing Bad news on the fishing fleets return

French Fishing Port
French fishing port

New Zealand Fisher Folk
New Zealand fishermen and women proudly show off their line of freshly caught trout!

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"Capturing the Spirit of Fish Wives: A Glimpse into the Lives of Strong Women" Step back in time to Newhaven, 1843-47, where Mrs. Logan and two unknown women proudly stand as fish wives. Their weathered faces tell tales of resilience and determination, printed for all to see in a timeless photograph from 1916. In another corner of the world, a woman sells herring with vibrant colors illuminating her surroundings. The quay at Boulogne becomes a bustling hub of commerce as she skillfully negotiates her trade. Traveling further westward, we find ourselves in Llangwm, captivated by a woman gracefully balancing fish baskets on her head. This colorful photo captures both the strength and grace required for such demanding work. A young girl dressed as a matalote catches our eye next; her attire symbolizes tradition and heritage passed down through generations. Her youthful spirit embodies hope for the future amidst an industry steeped in history. As we journey through various scenes depicted in lithographs and engravings, we witness the vibrant energy of marketplaces like Marche aux poissons. The hustle and bustle mirror these women's lives filled with hard work yet infused with camaraderie among fellow fishwives. Cornwall presents us with an exquisite color lithograph showcasing a proud Cornish fishwife who has braved storms alongside her seafaring husband. Her unwavering loyalty shines through every line etched onto paper. Banff introduces us to another remarkable character—a fish wife selling herring from a barrow—her entrepreneurial spirit evident even centuries ago. She stands tall against societal norms while providing sustenance for herself and others. Language transcends borders; it unites us all despite cultural differences or time periods captured within hand-colored engravings like "Language" from 1826. These images remind us that communication is essential not only between fishwives but also between generations.