Fishmarket Scene n.d.

William Henry Pyne sketched "Fishmarket Scene" in the late 18th or early 19th century, capturing a slice of everyday life with a humble pencil. During this era, Britain was undergoing rapid social and economic changes, with burgeoning urban centers and expanding markets. Here, we see women actively engaged in the commerce of the fish market. Pyne’s work offers a glimpse into the working lives of women in the 1800s, although his sketch avoids idealizing them. Instead, they are shown caught in the toil of their labour and circumstance. The sketch invites us to consider how gender and class shaped their daily existence, and how they navigated their roles in a society that often marginalized their contributions. Pyne’s scene isn’t just a depiction of a marketplace; it’s a reflection on the lives and labour of those who animated it.