Foot Scraper c. 1938

Ralph Atkinson’s watercolor, "Foot Scraper," presents a utilitarian object elevated to a subject of artistic study. Atkinson, who lived through pivotal shifts in British society, from the Victorian era to the late 20th century, captures more than just the form of a foot scraper. This work invites us to consider the cultural values embedded in such an everyday object. In a time when cleanliness was increasingly associated with respectability and social status, the foot scraper becomes a marker of these aspirations. How did the ritual of cleaning one’s shoes before entering a home reflect broader social hierarchies? Who was kept out, and who was welcomed in? Atkinson’s choice to depict this object, devoid of human presence, prompts us to reflect on the silent narratives of labor, class, and access that shape our environments. It serves as a reminder of the physical and social distances we navigate, and the subtle ways in which cleanliness and order can reinforce existing power structures.