Hard Times 1885

Hubert von Herkomer 1849 - 1914

Summary

Under a grey sky, an itinerant family rests at the side of a dirt road. They are a man, a woman, a baby, and a boy of about five years. The man stands to the left, leaning against a gate with his thumb hooked into his waistcoat pocket. He has a stong physique and a determined expression, and is dressed in brown work clothes and well-worn boots. He has a bundle on his back and a hat in his hand. His gaze follows the road which leads off to the right towards buildings in the distance. Two figures and a horse in the distance are coming down the road towards the man and his family. The woman sits exhausted on the grass verge, breastfeeding the baby. She too has been carrying a bundle of belongings. Her older child leans tiredly on her knee. The man's work tools - two shovels and a pick - are also on the verge. It is winter, there are no leaves on the trees and the hedges are brown. Two birds fly in the sky. Surface water can be seen in the field behind the gate on which the man leans.

Display Label

Hard Times 1885 1885 Hubert von Herkomer 1849-1914 Oil on canvas John Hacking, Living Wage Campaign Co-ordinator, Greater Manchester Poverty Action, spoke about this painting at a Gallery event entitled What have we learned about work during COVID, and what needs to change?: Covid has changed the environment, we know that; we’re in a recession. But the basic reasons, the basic benefits of paying the Living Wage haven’t changed, and that’s a key message for us. So we need to re-think the way we treat all our workers. We need a system that provides security and safety for all workers, so it’s not just about pay, it’s about zero hours contracts, it’s about temporary contracts and all of that... I think otherwise we’ll continue to have to live, metaphorically at least, with thousands of our fellow citizens left at the side of the road, looking weary and rejected and looking hopefully to the future for something better to come along. Purchased from the artist 1885.24