End of Market Street Croydon 

John Ruskin made this watercolor, 'End of Market Street Croydon', some time in the 19th century. Ruskin was interested in the aesthetics of everyday life, and how the experience of beauty could be transformative, both politically and spiritually. This image shows us a rather humble view of Croydon, then a rapidly expanding suburb of London. Ruskin seems interested in the way in which the buildings sit within the streetscape, with its modest storefronts advertising coal and horse carts. The sketch-like quality of the image suggests a fleeting moment, but also an interest in the way urban life was changing in the industrial era. Ruskin was a staunch critic of industrial capitalism, arguing that it alienated people from nature and from each other. To understand this image better, one could research the urban history of Croydon and the social impact of industrialization on English towns. Ruskin's writings on political economy and art criticism would also shed light on his views on the relationship between art, society, and the environment. Ultimately, this artwork serves as a reminder that art is embedded in social context.