The Strand 1842

Thomas Shotter Boys created this watercolor titled, "The Strand," depicting a street scene in London. Reflecting on this image, consider the era in which Boys lived—a time of immense social stratification in England. The Industrial Revolution was well underway and Boys captures a burgeoning London, a city of commerce and empire. But who benefited? Notice the figures populating the street: the elite in their finery, contrasted sharply with the working class, forever laboring in the margins. The composition itself seems to reinforce these divisions. The grandeur of St. Mary-le-Strand church and the solid buildings, symbols of stability and power, loom over the ordinary people. It’s a reminder of the hierarchies that governed every aspect of life. Boys doesn't seem to offer a critique. As you consider this piece, what does it tell us about who was seen, who was not, and who controlled the narrative of 19th-century London?