Elloughton Dale, East Riding of Yorkshire 

"Elloughton Dale, East Riding of Yorkshire" is a landscape painting, presumably made at the turn of the century, by William Gilbert Foster. Paintings of landscapes during this period often evoke a sense of national identity and pride, particularly in the English countryside. But they also often whitewash the complex socio-economic issues of the time. While the foreground is a striking and beautiful array of purple flowers, in the distance a barely visible figure walks beside two horses, perhaps on their way to or from labor. Foster’s style seems traditional, yet his focus on the details of the flowers as opposed to the people creates an interesting reversal. The landscape itself becomes the focus, with the human presence becoming secondary. This picture then, prompts us to consider the relationship between our idealized visions of the land and the realities of everyday life for those who inhabit it. It is both a celebration and perhaps a commentary on the changing social landscape of early 20th century England.