Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van Miss Lily die getild wordt door een dienstmeid, door James Hayllar c. 1870 - 1890

This is a photographic reproduction of a painting titled 'Miss Lily being carried by a maid', by James Hayllar. In this small portrait, we see a clear depiction of Victorian social structures, of class and gender. The image encapsulates the intimacy and inequity inherent in the relationships between domestic workers and the families they served. It compels us to consider the lives of the women, often unnamed and unseen, who performed essential labor within the domestic sphere. The original painting, now captured in this reproduction, offers a glimpse into the personal dimensions of class and labor. Consider the emotional labor, the physical toll, and the complex negotiation of power dynamics inherent in such a relationship. The image is a reminder of the laboring body, the body which enables another to ascend.