"Worldly Folk" Questioning Chimney Sweeps and Their Master before Christ Church, Philadelphia 1811 - 1816

"Worldly Folk" Questioning Chimney Sweeps and Their Master before Christ Church, Philadelphia is a watercolor painting by John Lewis Krimmel, painted between 1811 and 1816, and now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting depicts a scene of everyday life in Philadelphia, where a well-dressed couple encounters a group of chimney sweeps, questioning their master about their work. The scene highlights the social hierarchy of the early 19th century, with the wealthy couple seemingly both concerned for and curious about the working class individuals. Krimmel's attention to detail, particularly in the depiction of clothing, makes this work an important document of American history, as well as a fascinating example of genre painting.