Brading c. 1794

Piercy Roberts made this print of Brading sometime in the early 19th century. Roberts gives us a view into the everyday life of a rural English village. The church looms large over the rest of the buildings, a reminder of the centrality of religion in this society. The image also speaks to the social hierarchy of the time. Note the humble dwellings and the figures going about their daily lives, which hint at the realities of rural labor and social class. This print comes from a time of significant social and economic change in England, as the Industrial Revolution was beginning to transform the landscape. Images like this offer a glimpse into a world that was rapidly disappearing. The historian’s task is to understand the values and power relations of this world. By looking at local records, church documents, and other historical sources, we can understand more about the lived experiences of the people of Brading. Art like this reminds us that its meaning is always tied to its specific time and place.