The Blind Man 1853

Sir John Everett Millais created this drawing, The Blind Man, in the mid-19th century. He was closely associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of artists who challenged the artistic conventions of their time. In this scene, Millais depicts a blind man, accompanied by a young girl, navigating a bustling city street. The man's blindness is emphasized by the sign on his chest ‘Blind from Aldershot’. Consider the social context of Victorian England, where poverty and disability were widespread, yet often hidden from view. Millais brings this reality to the forefront, prompting viewers to confront the lives of those marginalized by society. The presence of horses and carriages suggests the class divisions of the period. The artwork invites questions about charity, empathy, and responsibility towards the less fortunate. To fully understand the image, one might look into records of social welfare and public health, shedding light on the period's attitudes toward poverty and disability.