An Open Hearth with a Fire 1770

Joseph Wright of Derby created "An Open Hearth with a Fire" using pen and gray ink with watercolor wash on paper. Wright, who lived through the Enlightenment, had an experimental spirit that came through in his paintings which explored light and shadow. In this image, Wright masterfully depicts a domestic scene, and one cannot help but wonder about the people who occupy this space. The details, like the pots and the chimney sweep tools, suggest that we are close to the lives of the working class, and the intensity of the fire suggests a story of labor and survival. During this time, the hearth was the center of daily life, a site of warmth and sustenance. Wright’s focus on the hearth invites us to consider the everyday lives of the laboring class who might gather around such a fire. This intimate view reminds us of the shared humanity and the universal need for warmth and community.