A FAMILY GROUP—BABY STIRRING THE PUDDING 

John Leech, a prominent social caricaturist, created this black and white drawing, A FAMILY GROUP—BABY STIRRING THE PUDDING, during the Victorian era, a time marked by distinct class structures and domestic ideals. Leech captures a family gathering around a Christmas pudding, a scene ripe with observations about Victorian society. The central image of the baby stirring the pudding embodies innocence, yet also underscores the era's emphasis on family lineage and inheritance. The figures surrounding the child display a range of social positions, from the working class to the gentry. The presence of mistletoe highlights courtship rituals and societal expectations around marriage and family continuity. Through this domestic scene, Leech subtly comments on the complexities of Victorian life, reflecting its values and perhaps, its underlying tensions around class and identity. The drawing invites us to reflect on how these societal structures shaped personal experiences and family dynamics during this period.