Spring 

John Atkinson Grimshaw created this painting, “Spring,” during the Victorian era in England. It depicts a woman in a patterned robe tending to plants on a window sill. The composition and the inclusion of objects carry social meaning. The robe, screen, and vase allude to the fashion for Japonisme, which became a popular aesthetic among the middle class in Europe at this time due to increased trade with Japan. By including Japonisme objects in the home, families could signal their awareness of current tastes and their participation in global commerce. The painting shows the woman's domestic role as caretaker, which was an important component of Victorian family life. It also suggests the family’s position in the middle class, as only wealthier families had the leisure time to attend to such things. Careful analysis of historical context is required to understand this painting’s full meaning.