Low Lodging House, St. Giles's; A Study from Life, from "The Graphic," vol. 6
After Sir Hubert von Herkomer British, born Germany
Not on view
Herkomer depicts poor women in cheap accommodations in the London neighborhood of St. Giles that borders Soho and Bloomsbury. Such scenes were uncommon in contemporary illustrated journalism, but "The Graphic" championed an unflinching portrayal of the outcasts of society. Most of the women are elderly, perhaps widows forced to remain in housing that was intended as a temporary solution for homelessness. Early in his career, Van Gogh admired Herkomer and collected prints such as this. Noticing how these slumped postures and clenched hands convey suffering, the Dutch artist made related figure studies.
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