House Work Collection (#4)

MILKING, 19th CENTURY. The White Cow. Etching, French, late 19th century, after a painting by Julien Dupr (1851-1910)
MILKING, 19th CENTURY. The White Cow. Etching, French, late 19th century, after a painting by Julien Dupr© (1851-1910)

Making soap
Woman making soft soap by hand with an outdoor kettle to render lard. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of a photograph

Romance on a city rooftop, 1800s
Woman hanging laundry talking with a mason on a city rooftop, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Woman washing a sheet in a river in Portugal
Woman washing a sheet at the side of a river in Portugal. She is kneeling on a specially designed wooden platform, which stops her getting too wet

Woman hanging out the washing on a line
A woman hanging out the washing on a line (or two), apparently at the side of a stretch of water

Washing Day by Millicent Sowerby
Two jolly girl guides and a little Brownie hard at work on washing day. One washes clothes in a soap sud filled wash tub while another hangs gleaming sheets on a line

Hanging out the washing
A young housewife takes advantage of a breezy day and hangs out her washing on the line

Suds, 1930s style
A woman smiles as she stands up to her elbows in soap suds while doing a bit of hand washing in the sink

Gas Council advertisement 1954
Advertisement by the Gas Council stressing that the gas industry makes the best use of the nations coal, allowing busy housewives the luxury of instant hot water with Mr Therms Sink Water-heaters

Drying Machine
Several engravings illustrating an ingenious device for drying clothes; a forerunner of the fold-up telescopic clothes drier used instead of a line and pegs

Ironing a Shirt 1911
Photograph demonstrating how to iron a shirt or blouse in 1911

Advert Vacuum Cleaner
Advert for the housewife for christmas! Western Electric Vacuum Sweeper with the motor driven brush

Dusting for Exercise
A young lady in shorts with buttoned falls gives these windows a vigorous rub with a checked cloth - a great way to tone up the waist and bust without the need of a gym!

Domestic Communism
COMMUNISM IN THE HOME The servants share the familys clothes and possessions, the ladies take part in the housework

Housemaid Scrubbing 1886
Friday: The housemaid scrubs the staircase

Woman hoovering
Woman with hoover using the attachments

Housework in Trenches
German troops on the Eastern Front get on with their household tasks while one of them keeps an eye open for signs of enemy activity

COSTUME 1837-8 / LEECH
A working girl imitates the genteel accomplishments of young ladies. Her dress is low cut with puffed sleeves & is worn with a coarse apron. Both women wear pattens

Progress Vacuum Cleaner
You see, the house is much cleaner with the PROGRESS than with any other vacuum cleaner, whats more, Maman didn t even hear us do the housework !

Dusting for Excercise
A smiling young lady in shorts with buttoned falls dusts briskly with a feather duster - a great way to tone up the waist and bust without the need of a gym!

Linen Cupboard
The famous and respected German opera singer Mme Schumann-Heink at home doing housework

Butler in his Pantry
The butler in his pantry, polishing the silver

Scrubbing Step
A housemaid scrubs the front step of a London house while the cook goes out to do her early morning marketing

Futuristic home, with chores done automatically
A futuristic home, with chores done automatically. The housewifes life will be an easy one in which she can sit back, read the paper and listen to music

Futuristic floor polishing machine
A maid operates a futuristic automated electric floor polishing machine -- housework made easy

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"Unveiling the Invisible: The Evolution of Housework Through Time" In the spring of 1972, Ms. Magazine made a groundbreaking debut, shedding light on the often overlooked realm of housework. This cover symbolized a turning point in history, as women's voices began to rise against societal expectations. Traveling back in time to c1850, we find ourselves immersed in a Mexican kitchen where two women diligently work side by side. Their efforts may have gone unnoticed then, but today we recognize their contribution to our understanding of domestic labor. The story takes us even further back to biblical times with Jesus, Mary, and Martha. While Martha busied herself with household chores, Mary chose knowledge over traditional gender roles - an act that sparked contemplation about the value society places on housework. Fast forward to 1975 when an English politician named Margaret Thatcher posed for a photograph at her home in Chelsea. Little did she know that shortly after this moment captured in time, she would become leader of the Conservative Party and challenge gender norms within politics. Meanwhile, advertisements from 1926 showcased advancements in home appliances like the Hoover vacuum cleaner - revolutionizing cleaning methods and easing some burdens associated with housework. Arthur Rackham's depiction of Cinderella reminds us of timeless tales where women were expected to fulfill domestic duties before finding their happily ever after. These stories perpetuated societal expectations surrounding housework for generations. Ethel Parkinson's paintings "Baking Day" and "Cleaning Day" transport us into scenes filled with both hard work and joyous moments shared among family members during daily tasks - reminding us that there can be beauty found amidst mundane routines. As we conclude our journey through time, we witness Mrs. Margaret Thatcher making history once again as she sweeps away barriers within British politics on February 2nd, 1975. Her determination serves as inspiration for all those who strive for equality regardless of gender or occupation.