Soiled Collection

Boy crossing sweeper who would earn a few pence by sweeping the road clean of horse droppings and any other such dirt
533893 Boy crossing sweeper who would earn a few pence by sweeping the road clean of horse droppings and any other such dirt

Disadvantages of a short cut. "I have kept my dear Amelia waiting a deuced long time
Disadvantages of a short cut. " I have kept my dear Amelia waiting a deuced long time! - but this short cut will soon bring me to her enchanting presence;

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

Sad Sloppy Weather, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1808 (hand-coloured etching)
NCO190131 Sad Sloppy Weather, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1808 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Courtesy of the Warden and Scholars of New College, Oxford; English

Two pigeons resting whilst commuters stream past on Westminster Bridge, London
London England - 2005; Its sunrise. Amidst glowing morning light, two pigeons rest on the banks of the Thames at Waterloo Embankment, just by the London Eye

A return from a march or a false alarm in a country village, engraving 1799, a group of British citizens mustered in response to an alarm that the French were attacking England which proved to be

Boy crossing sweeper who would earn a few pence by sweeping the road clean of horse droppings and any other such dirt so that persons higher up the social ladder could cross the road without getting

A Return From A March Or A False Alarm In A Country Village, Engraving 1799, A Group Of British Citizens Mustered In Response To An Alarm That The French Were Attacking England Which Proved To Be

Two freshly-picked mushrooms with mud at the bottom of their stalks, close up

Wicker basket and apples on wooden stool, old cylindrical wooden box, soiled pair of shoes, front view

Soiled freshly picked new potatoes, side view

Italy. Tuscany. Uccellina Park. Horses

Six soiled carrots, close up

Common Magpie (Pica pica sericea) flock, some with sooty plumage from entering chimneys, perched in tree, Beidaihe, Hebei, China, may

Common Magpie (Pica pica sericea) adult, with sooty plumage from entering chimneys, standing on ground, Beidaihe, Hebei, China, may

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"Disadvantages of a Short Cut: I have kept my dear Amelia waiting a deuced long time" In this litho advertisement for VIM, the message is clear - taking shortcuts can lead to messy consequences. Just like the sad sloppy weather depicted in Hannah Humphrey's hand-coloured etching from 1808, rushing through things often results in a soiled outcome. As we see two pigeons resting calmly on Westminster Bridge while commuters stream past, it serves as a reminder that sometimes it's better to take our time and avoid getting caught up in the chaos. Similarly, an engraving from 1799 shows villagers returning from what seems to be either a march or false alarm. Their disheveled appearance suggests that hasty actions can leave us feeling dirty and worn out. The image of a young boy working as a crossing sweeper further emphasizes the drawbacks of cutting corners. By earning just a few pence sweeping horse droppings off the road, he experiences firsthand how neglecting proper care leads to unsightly messes. Even nature teaches us this lesson. Two freshly-picked mushrooms with mud at the bottom of their stalks remind us that even something delicate and beautiful can become tainted if not handled with care. And let's not forget about those soiled new potatoes; their side view reveals how easily they lose their pristine appearance when mishandled. Moving away from food, we find ourselves in Italy's Uccellina Park where horses roam freely. However majestic they may appear, even these magnificent creatures are susceptible to becoming soiled if left unattended. Lastly, six carrots close up show us that dirt has no mercy - it clings onto everything it touches. No matter how fresh or vibrant something may seem initially, neglecting cleanliness will inevitably result in an undesirable outcome. So remember, whether you're tempted by shortcuts or faced with muddy obstacles along your path - taking your time and paying attention to cleanliness will always lead to a better, less soiled outcome.