[Plate from Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler] 1880s

This is a plate from Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler, made by George Bankart. In its stillness and romanticism, it presents a vision of nature as a refuge, untouched by the industrializing world. This aesthetic was popular in England in the 19th century, amid rapid urbanization and social change. The image subtly reinforces a particular vision of the English countryside as an escape from modernity, and for some a place to re-affirm traditional values. Bankart's choice of subject matter, and his artistic approach, reflect broader trends in Victorian England, where art often served to reinforce or critique contemporary social structures. Angling itself was becoming a popular leisure pursuit, linked to ideas about health, and communion with nature, but also class identity. By researching the social and cultural context in which The Compleat Angler was created, we can begin to understand how art operates as part of a wider network of social and institutional forces.