Pride Humbled or Jenkins is Compelled to Clean Masters 1840 - 1850

John Leech made this watercolor drawing, "Pride Humbled," sometime in the mid-19th century. It depicts a man, presumably Jenkins, begrudgingly cleaning boots. Watercolors, with their fluid application, were often used for satirical illustrations like this one, allowing for quick, expressive lines and washes of color. Leech skillfully uses these properties to convey the textures of the clothing and the dull gleam of the boots being polished. The very act of depicting labor, especially menial labor, in art raises questions about class and social status. Consider the contrast between the fine clothes Jenkins is wearing, probably livery indicating his position as a servant, and the dirty task he's performing. The artist is highlighting a social tension, using the detailed rendering of the scene to subtly critique the class structure of Victorian society. The presence of everyday materials and the attention to the details of labor challenge the traditional hierarchy that often separates fine art from the more humble crafts.