I started this series early last fall as a lesson in the safety of period clothing, then as a survey of evidence of women in "work" clothes. Images, engravings, and paintings of women doing daily chores invite us into their daily lives, like a snapshot to the 19th Century.
I'm still not sure what the mother in this painting is doing, laundry maybe? Notice her light sun-bonnet and apron, but serving functionally. It appears that she may also have on a work petticoat under that apron.
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| Canal Street Market, 1860 by Henry Mosler |
This painting of
Canal Street Market has so much going on! Look at the aprons, the bonnets, the baskets! Its a look into bustling street scene that gives so much detail I encourage you to
look at it large and see all of those wonderful details that Mosler included. Here we do see at least two wonderful sunbonnets in different styles.
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| Engraving of a Laundress, Harper's Weekly Sept 1862. |
This is a war time engraving printed in
Harper's Weekly, Sept 26, 1862. This laundress has her skirts pulled up around her and her sleeves either pushed up, or may even be a short sleeve dress. I love that her hair is coming loose and we can see those stray ends falling out! Makes me feel good about my hair being a mess while running round.
For more in this series & to see more images, please read
Part 1 &
Part 2
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