The flower sellers 1892

Augustus Edwin Mulready painted ‘The Flower Sellers’ in the late 19th century, a time of vast social inequality in London. The painting offers a glimpse into the lives of working-class children. The girls, likely from impoverished backgrounds, are depicted selling flowers in the rain. Their clothing is worn, and their expressions are a mix of hope and resignation. The older girl carries the heavy basket, her face shadowed with the weight of responsibility. Mulready doesn't shy away from representing the harsh realities these children faced, forced into labor to survive. At the time, the economic hardships were often gendered, with women and girls facing particular vulnerabilities. The presence of the umbrella, possibly their only protection from the elements, speaks volumes about their precarious existence. However, there is a resilience in their eyes. They are not merely victims but active participants in their own survival. In this sense, the painting serves as a poignant reflection on childhood, labor, and the class divisions of Victorian England.