Housework Collection (page 6)

A Woman Spinning, Plate 4 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57

A Woman Cooking, Plate 3 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57. ca. 1640-57
A Woman Cooking, Plate 3 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57

Two Women Sewing, Plate 1 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57

Women doing the housework in Ancient Greece (engraving)
5216628 Women doing the housework in Ancient Greece (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Women doing the housework in Ancient Greece)

Woman Emptying a Bucket, 1862 (cliche verre)
5642993 Woman Emptying a Bucket, 1862 (clicheverre) by Millet, Jean-Francois (1814-75); 28.4 A-- 22 cm; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA; (add.info.: Clicheverre is etching)

Eau D or Naigeon Poster (colour litho)
6280438 Eau D or Naigeon Poster (colour litho) by Choubrac, Alfred (1853-1902); (add.info.: Advertisment for Eau D or Naigeon, Gold Water for cleaning brass)

The washing paddle (chromolitho)
977644 The washing paddle (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The washing paddle)

Prangs Aids for Object Teaching - The Kitchen, 1874 (colour litho)
1123859 Prangs Aids for Object Teaching - The Kitchen, 1874 (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; American, out of copyright

The house with two mistresses is unswept, 1932 (colour litho)
473431 The house with two mistresses is unswept, 1932 (colour litho) by Bull, Rene(1872-1942); Private Collection; (add.info)

The "Please, mother, will you tell me a story?"peril
STC398798 The " Please, mother, will you tell me a story?" peril, illustration from Pont: An Account of the Life and Work of the great Punch artist (litho) by Pont (Graham Laidler) (1908-40)

Local Women fetching drinking water from a well - Venice, Italy. Date: circa 1901

Comic postcard, Little girl scrubbing the front step Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman on holiday, in the sea, then home again, doing the washing Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman on holiday, then home again - Make the most of it (in English and French) Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman in deckchair at the seaside, dreaming of all the housework she isn t having to do Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Maidservant and dog Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Little girl doing the housework Date: circa 1918

A smiling young woman in a headscarf and apron washing up or preparing food in a kitchen or scullery. Tea towels hang from the airer above, assorted ladles and pans are close to hand

Interior (oil on canvas)
AGN125661 Interior (oil on canvas) by Gilman, Harold (1876-1919); 16x18 cm; Private Collection; Photo eAgnew s, London; English, out of copyright

Advert, Old Dutch Cleaner -- woman cleaning in the kitchen. 1922

Advert, Bon Ami cleaning and polishing cake and powder. 1922

Advert, Johnsons Polishing Wax Advert, Johnsons Polishing Wax
Advert, Johnsons Polishing Wax. 1926

Sewing, 1906 (oil on canvas) (see 191596 for detail)
PCT164306 Sewing, 1906 (oil on canvas) (see 191596 for detail) by Bartholoty, Marius (fl.1904); 95x120 cm; Musee Petiet, Limoux, France; French, out of copyright

Interior of a Larder with Women cleaning Game, 1852 (oil on panel)
989266 Interior of a Larder with Women cleaning Game, 1852 (oil on panel) by Hove, Hubertus van (1814-65); 44.2x55.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Interior of a Larder with Women cleaning Game)

Role reversal: a husband sweeping the floor of his home while his wife relaxes in a rocking chair (colour litho)
5999964 Role reversal: a husband sweeping the floor of his home while his wife relaxes in a rocking chair (colour litho) by English School

Preparation for married life: woman scrubbing a flight of stairs (colour litho)
5995984 Preparation for married life: woman scrubbing a flight of stairs (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Preparation for married life)

The Kitchen, 1858 (etching)
5672884 The Kitchen, 1858 (etching) by Whistler, James Abbott McNeill (1834-1903); Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info.: Twleve Etchings after Nature from The French Set ); American

The Useful Little Maid by Frances Brundage. 1898

Plate 436. Making Up a Bed, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950259 Plate 436. Making Up a Bed, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 16.4x44.6 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

An young African American woman hanging laundry to dry in Newport, Rhode Island, c
5042900 An young African American woman hanging laundry to dry in Newport, Rhode Island, c.1902 (b/w photo) by KAasebier, Gertrude (1852-1934); Private Collection; American, out of copyright

A tendency to leave the washing-up till later, illustration from Pont
STC398793 A tendency to leave the washing-up till later, illustration from Pont: An Account of the Life and Work of the great Punch artist (litho) by Pont (Graham Laidler) (1908-40)

Water wastage is avoided, advertisement for Maurice Eyquem water meters
CHT178337 Water wastage is avoided, advertisement for Maurice Eyquem water meters, 1898 (colour litho) by Blott, Georges (fl.1898); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Caricature depicting two washerwomen gossiping, late 19th century (colour litho)
CHT178338 Caricature depicting two washerwomen gossiping, late 19th century (colour litho) by Gottlob, Fernand Louis (1873-1935); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

La Menagere
LLM455696 La Menagere by Dou, Gerrit or Gerard (1613-75); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Menagere. Studies from the Great Masters (Hamilton, Adams & Co, c 1860)

Nurse discovering a hole in Jills garments (engraving)
3625277 Nurse discovering a hole in Jills garments (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Nurse discovering a hole in Jills garments)

Dying clothes at home (chromolitho)
3105268 Dying clothes at home (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dying clothes at home)

Advert for Zebra Fire Grate Polish. 1902

A Housewife Doing Laundry in Her Sink, 1937 (screen print)
2629958 A Housewife Doing Laundry in Her Sink, 1937 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eGraphicaArtis; American, out of copyright

Plate 219. Stooping and Lifting Broom and Sweeping, 1872-85 (collotype on paper)
3950201 Plate 219. Stooping and Lifting Broom and Sweeping, 1872-85 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 15.9x44.3 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover

The cook
3567518 The cook by Netscher, Caspar (1639-84); Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Tuscany, Italy; (add.info.: ARTIST: Netscher, Caspar Date of Artwork: 1639 - 1684 ca)

Advertisement for the Empire Wringer Company, Auburn, New York (colour litho)
3105726 Advertisement for the Empire Wringer Company, Auburn, New York (colour litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for the Empire Wringer Company)

Mother and Child with Pail (pen & ink on paper)
AGN284350 Mother and Child with Pail (pen & ink on paper) by Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (1591-1666); Private Collection; Photo eAgnew s, London; Italian, out of copyright

Girls washing clothes (chromolitho)
6001861 Girls washing clothes (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girls washing clothes)

Maids of All Work, 1864-65 (oil on canvas)
JEF13888 Maids of All Work, 1864-65 (oil on canvas) by Finnie, John (1829-1907); 58x42.7 cm; The Geffrye Museum of the Home, London, UK; eGeffrye Museum; English, out of copyright

Advertisement for VIM (litho)
6029399 Advertisement for VIM (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement for VIM)

The ideal husband cleaning the fireplace (colour litho)
6000028 The ideal husband cleaning the fireplace (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The ideal husband cleaning the fireplace)

Norwegian Interior, 1913 (oil on canvas)
AGN125662 Norwegian Interior, 1913 (oil on canvas) by Gilman, Harold (1876-1919); 71x56 cm; Private Collection; Photo eAgnew s, London; English, out of copyright

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"From Sunlight Soap to Hoover Vacuum Cleaners: A Journey through Housework" Step into the past and discover the evolution with these captivating images and advertisements. Intriguingly, a poster advertising Sunlight Soap takes us back in time, reminding us of the importance of cleanliness in every household. The Western Electric vacuum cleaner advertisement showcases a patient woman diligently cleaning her surroundings, highlighting the dedication required for maintaining a pristine home. The artwork "St. Alkmunds, Shrewsbury, 1801" by John Varley transports us to another era, where women were responsible for keeping their homes immaculate. This timeless piece captures the essence of domesticity and reminds us of the long-standing tradition of housekeeping. Fast forward to more modern times; we witness a woman effortlessly vacuuming her living space—a testament to how technology has revolutionized our daily chores. Even Charles Dickens recognized the significance of housekeeping in his novel "David Copperfield, " emphasizing its role in shaping characters' lives. A glimpse into the 1930s reveals an image of a woman at her kitchen sink—an iconic representation that resonates with many generations who have spent countless hours washing dishes and ensuring cleanliness prevails within their homes. Advertisements for Hoover—the world's best vacuum cleaner—showcase spring cleaning rituals and highlight this brand's commitment to making housework more manageable. From electric washing machines to Mary Ann electric vacuum cleaners, these adverts demonstrate how innovation has made mundane tasks easier over time. As we explore these snapshots from history, it becomes evident that housework is not just about tidying up—it represents dedication, pride in one's home, and even societal norms that have shaped our understanding of gender roles throughout different eras. So next time you embark on your own journey through household chores, remember that behind each task lies a rich tapestry connecting generations past and present—a testament to resilience and adaptability as we strive to create comfortable and inviting homes for ourselves and our loved ones.