Doing The Laundry Collection

The Laundress, 1885 (oil on canvas)
7276973 The Laundress, 1885 (oil on canvas) by Tanner, Henry Ossawa (1859-1937); 49.53x65.41 cm; Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA

Children Playing in Street, Algeria, c. 1960 (photo)
1730104 Children Playing in Street, Algeria, c.1960 (photo) by Unknown photographer, (20th century); (add.info.: Children playing in street, Algeria, 60 s)

Laundry Maids, 1926 (oil on canvas)
7216659 Laundry Maids, 1926 (oil on canvas) by Vejrych, Rudolf (1882-1939); (add.info.: Rudolf Vejrych was a Czech painter)

ALPHABET B. RABIER L, 1932 (illustration)
7206846 ALPHABET B. RABIER L, 1932 (illustration) by Rabier, Benjamin (1869-1939); 30, 5x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: L: lion, moon, rabbit, glasses, book, ladle, greyhound, lantern, lamp)

A young girl cries over a dirty bonnet in a room. 1791 (engraving)
7234854 A young girl cries over a dirty bonnet in a room. 1791 (engraving) by Chodowiecki, Daniel Nikolaus (1726-1801); Private Collection; (add.info)

Welsh women washing linen in a stream, 1800s. 1821 (engraving)
7234192 Welsh women washing linen in a stream, 1800s. 1821 (engraving) by Alexander, William (1767-1816) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Household utensils (colour litho)
7153910 Household utensils (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Household utensils.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Floating Capital (engraving)
7177873 Floating Capital (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Floating Capital. Illustration for The Comic Annual by Thomas Hood)

The Little Laundress (engraving)
7188293 The Little Laundress (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Little Laundress. Illustration for Home Words (1891).); © Look and Learn

Advertisement for Lux laundry soap (chromolitho)
7154036 Advertisement for Lux laundry soap (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Boy putting on a clean shirt, Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho)
7153642 Boy putting on a clean shirt, Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Boy putting on a clean shirt, Sunlight Soap)

The Little Ironer (engraving)
7167581 The Little Ironer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Little Ironer)

The Light Horse (engraving)
7177679 The Light Horse (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Light Horse. Illustration for The Comic Annual by Thomas Hood)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Blanchisseur; Bleacher; Wascher (engraving)
7194945 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Blanchisseur; Bleacher; Wascher (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Blanchisseur; Bleacher; Wascher)

Two little girls washing their dolls clothes (chromolitho)
7148272 Two little girls washing their dolls clothes (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Two little girls washing their dolls clothes)

Drawings for the Model Sanitary Steam Laundry, Southport, Merseyside (colour litho)
7200417 Drawings for the Model Sanitary Steam Laundry, Southport, Merseyside (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Hudsons Soap powder, advertisement (colour litho)
7153647 Hudsons Soap powder, advertisement (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hudsons Soap powder)

Girls buying Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho)
7153497 Girls buying Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girls buying Sunlight Soap)

Artillery piece of the National Army on a street, Battle of Dublin, Irish Civil War, 1922 (b / w photo)
7148722 Artillery piece of the National Army on a street, Battle of Dublin, Irish Civil War, 1922 (b/w photo) by Irish Photographer (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Watering Place, 1891 (oil on canvas)
7076716 The Watering Place, 1891 (oil on canvas) by Muenier, Jules Alexis (1863-1942); 156x156 cm; Private Collection

Advertisement for the Lectross electric clothes horse (colour litho)
7157409 Advertisement for the Lectross electric clothes horse (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for the Lectross electric clothes horse)

Peasants at Work at a Bleaching Ground (oil on canvas)
6436354 Peasants at Work at a Bleaching Ground (oil on canvas) by Apshoven, Thomas van (1622-65); Private Collection

Advert for Twink soap (colour litho)
7184964 Advert for Twink soap (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advert for Twink soap)

Poverty in late Victorian Britain (chromolitho)
7157128 Poverty in late Victorian Britain (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Poverty in late Victorian Britain)

La Layette (engraving)
7194574 La Layette (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Layette. Illustration for Chefs-D Oeuvre de La Gravure Moderne (Michel Levy)

Washing day (colour litho)
7185217 Washing day (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Washing day. Illustration from Lots of Pictures (Blackie & Son Limited, London and Glasgow)

Playing cards (colour litho)
7201561 Playing cards (colour litho) by German School, (16th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Playing cards)

Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho)
7153643 Sunlight Soap, advertisement (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sunlight Soap)

Once the laundry is done, and attracted by the hot water in the tub placed above a cart, a bride... (colour litho)
2783699 Once the laundry is done, and attracted by the hot water in the tub placed above a cart, a bride... (colour litho) by Beltrame

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From the bustling streets of Genoa to the serene streams of Wales, laundry has been an age-old chore that transcends time and cultures. In 'The Laundress, 1885', we witness a glimpse into the daily life of a washerwoman, her hands diligently scrubbing away stains and dirt. The vibrant colors in 'Street in the old quarter of Genoa, Italy' reflect the lively atmosphere where laundry lines crisscross above narrow alleyways. However, not all stories about laundry are cheerful. 'The Tragic End of a Child' reminds us that even mundane tasks can be overshadowed by tragedy. Yet amidst sorrow, there is also joy – as seen in 'Children Playing in Street, Algeria'. Their laughter echoes through the air as they play among drying clothes. Throughout history, artists have captured these moments on canvas or through engravings like 'Laundry Maids' and 'A young girl cries over a dirty bonnet in a room'. These images immortalize both the laborious nature and emotional connections tied to doing laundry. In contrast to traditional methods depicted in engravings such as 'Welsh women washing linen in a stream', technological advancements brought forth household utensils like those shown in 'Household utensils (colour litho)'. As society evolved further still, industrialization made its mark with images like 'Floating Capital (engraving)', showcasing how commerce intertwined with everyday chores. Yet amongst all this change remains one constant: the role of women. From ‘The Little Laundress’ engraving to an advertisement for Lux laundry soap featuring empowered women ('Advertisement for Lux laundry soap (chromolitho)'), it is clear that throughout history women have shouldered much of this responsibility. So next time you find yourself folding freshly laundered clothes or loading up your washing machine, take a moment to appreciate the rich tapestry woven by centuries past – where art meets necessity and the simple act of doing laundry connects us all.