Study for Fleet Prison, from Microcosm of London c. 1808

Augustus Charles Pugin created this study for Fleet Prison as part of the "Microcosm of London" series. The Fleet Prison looms large in the background, a stark reminder of the social inequalities of early 19th-century London. It was a time when debt could land you in prison, and this image captures the grim reality faced by many. The figures in the foreground, rendered with a sense of everyday life, highlight the contrast between the confined space of the prison and the bustling city outside. Pugin's work invites us to consider the role of institutions in shaping society. The prison, as an institution, becomes a symbol of both punishment and social control. What kind of visual codes are being projected here, and how do they relate to the prevailing social and political norms of the time? To fully understand this artwork, we must delve into the archives. Records of the Fleet Prison, along with social surveys of London, will illuminate the context in which this image was created. Only then can we truly appreciate Pugin's commentary on the social structures of his time.