A Cottage Parlour 1838 - 1910

Sir Francis Seymour Haden created this sketch of “A Cottage Parlour” sometime between 1836 and 1910. The open doorway draws the viewer's eye, promising passage into another room. The threshold is not merely a physical marker, but a potent symbol of transition, echoed in countless myths and rituals. Think of the Roman god Janus, guardian of doorways, his two faces gazing both forward and back. The doorway motif appears across cultures, from ancient Egyptian tombs to Renaissance paintings. In each instance, the doorway embodies the liminal state, a space between what was and what will be. We can understand the emotional resonance of this transitional space; even today, the simple act of crossing a threshold can evoke anticipation, anxiety, and even a sense of the unknown. This deeply ingrained, psychological understanding enriches our experience, turning a mere sketch into a symbolic journey.