Thrift 1870 - 1891

Charles Samuel Keene made ‘Thrift’, a pen and brown ink and brown wash on paper drawing, during the Victorian era. The drawing depicts two men with a horse-drawn carriage, with a woman in the background. Keene lived during a time of rigid social stratification, and he created work for ‘Punch’ magazine, offering satirical commentary on the English middle classes. ‘Thrift’ captures a moment where class distinctions are evident, yet subtly blurred, through the relationship between the coachman and the passenger. The coachman is depicted in a subservient role, but also one of skilled labor. Meanwhile, the woman in the background reminds us of the limited roles available to women at this time, often confined to the domestic sphere. The drawing prompts us to consider the labor that underpins the lives of the leisured classes. Keene’s economic status allowed him to represent these social dynamics, reminding us of the emotional and economic realities of Victorian society.