Laundry Day Collection

Housing slums in the Dalmarnock district of Glasgow the deralict tenament housing with its windows broken a load of washing is hung out to dry October 1963

Laundry Day
Andreas Magnusson

Housing slums in the Dalmarnock district of Glasgow The deralict tenament housing with its windows broken A load of washing is hung out to dry October 1963

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

Laundry Day, West Somerset (w / c on paper)
2956881 Laundry Day, West Somerset (w/c on paper) by North, John William (1842-1924); 63.5x88.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

A Monday Washing, New York City, USA. After a photo-chromolithograph by an unidentified photographer, published circa 1900 by the Detroit Photographic Co.; New York City, New York

A washing line near a terrace house in Manchester Circa 1955

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"Laundry Day: A Glimpse into the Past and Present" Step into the time machine as we explore the concept of "laundry day" through various historical snapshots. From the housing slums in Glasgow's Dalmarnock district to a street in Genoa's old quarter, these images offer glimpses into different eras and cultures. In 1885, "The Laundress" captivates us with an oil painting that portrays a woman diligently washing clothes, perhaps in one of those derelict tenement houses. The colors on this canvas seem to come alive, transporting us back to a bygone era. Moving forward, we find ourselves immersed in a colored photograph capturing life on a bustling street in old Genoa. Amidst the chaos, laundry hangs from windows like vibrant flags fluttering against ancient stone facades. It reminds us that laundry day is not just about chores but also an opportunity for communities to intertwine their lives. However, not all aspects are cheerful. "The Tragic End of a Child, " depicted through color lithography, serves as a poignant reminder of how even mundane tasks can be overshadowed by tragedy and sorrow. Shifting our focus to Algeria circa 1960s, another photo reveals children playing joyfully amidst hanging laundry lines. Their innocent laughter echoes through time and space while reminding us that no matter where or when it occurs, childhood knows no boundaries. Fast-forwarding again brings us face-to-face with "Laundry Maids" captured on canvas in 1926. This piece showcases women working tirelessly under dim lighting conditions - their dedication evident despite their challenging circumstances. As if plucked from an alphabet book illustration dated 1932 ("ALPHABET B. RABIER L"), we encounter scenes depicting everyday household utensils used during laundry days past – washboards scrubbing away stains and clothespins holding garments firmly onto lines.