The Terrace of the Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, London 1878

James Tissot painted "The Terrace of the Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, London," using oil on canvas. It captures a moment of leisure among the Victorian middle class. Notice how Tissot situates his figures on the cusp of enormous historical shifts, with Britain at the height of its imperial power. They are literally on a terrace, gazing out at the ships on the Thames, the lifeblood of British commerce and colonialism. Yet, there’s a sense of detachment, a quiet contemplation that seems to acknowledge the cost of this prosperity. Tissot does not give us a glorification of empire, instead he offers a glimpse of the lives it touched, and perhaps, subtly critiqued. The women in the foreground, fashionably dressed yet somewhat passive, hint at the restricted roles afforded to them in this era. Their gaze, like ours, is directed outwards, but their agency is subtly curtailed. This painting asks us to consider not just what is seen, but what is felt and left unsaid. It serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in historical narratives, inviting us to reflect on the legacies of empire and the human stories embedded within them.