Watercolour and graphite on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Chantrey Bequest
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/gerald-moira-1650" aria-label="More by Gerald Moira" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Gerald Moira</a>
Washing Day
Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1938
actions: processes and functions
adults
apron
bowl
carrying / holding
clothing
clothing and personal items
domestic
group
groups
headscarf
interiors
laundering
laundry
objects
people
vessels and containers
woman
work and occupations
workspaces
<p>These two laundry girls are marking linen with coloured thread to distinguish the items for return to owners. Rutherston liked to choose subjects from daily life. Despite the painting’s appearance of authenticity, it was staged in his studio using props to create the scene. The models actually sold fruit and vegetables and had also sat for the painter Walter Sickert. There is no sense of the energetic activity of real work. The women are presented working contentedly in a way that was unproblematic for the middle-class viewer.</p><p><em>Gallery label, October 2020</em></p>
paper unique watercolour graphite
Washing Day
support: 387 × 559 mm
Presented by the Trustees of the <a href="/search?gid=999999977" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Chantrey Bequest</a> 1938
<div class="text">
<p>These two laundry girls are marking linen with coloured thread to distinguish the items for return to owners. Rutherston liked to choose subjects from daily life. Despite the painting’s appearance of authenticity, it was staged in his studio using props to create the scene. The models actually sold fruit and vegetables and had also sat for the painter Walter Sickert. There is no sense of the energetic activity of real work. The women are presented working contentedly in a way that was unproblematic for the middle-class viewer.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2020-10-13T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N04966</b> WASHING DAY <i>c.</i> 1938</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Inscr. ‘GM’ b.r.
<br/>Pencil and watercolour, 15 1/4×22 (39×56).
<br/>Chantrey Purchase from the artist 1938.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> R.A., 1938 (978).
<br/>
<br/>[no further details]
<br/>
<br/><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, II
<br/>
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-20T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: processes and functions adults apron bowl carrying / holding clothing clothing and personal items domestic group groups headscarf interiors laundering laundry objects people vessels and containers woman work and occupations workspaces