Victorian Workhouse Child 02
Store Review (0)PRESENTED BY : Hester Badenhorst Art
| Frame | Stretched canvas (4 cm depth), unframed. |
|---|---|
| Medium | Collage, Text Transfer, Ink |
| Location | Pretoria, South Africa, South Africa |
| Height | 76.00 cm |
| Width | 38.00 cm |
| Artist | Hester Badenhorst |
| Year | 2024 |
Victorian Workhouse Child 02 Original Artwork on stretched canvas. Collage, Text Transfer, Ink. 38x76x4 cm.
"Victorian Workhouse Child 02" was created from the mugshot of James Darley, aged 16 who stole some shirts in 1873, and was sentenced to 2 months of hard labour.
This artwork series focuses on children from Victorian workhouses, who were forced into labour under harsh conditions. The series reflects the current situation in South Africa where parentless children work to support their siblings. The issue seems simple on a large scale but becomes complex when viewed closely. The artwork uses a layered transfer technique to recreate the children on canvas, symbolizing a multifaceted social issue. Each child has a unique expression, inviting the viewer to imagine how they would handle their situation. The artwork combines collaged materials on stretched canvas, with teabag paper creating a sepia-coloured background and transferred letters adding depth. The original images are sourced from Tyne Wear Archives Museums under the Creative Commons license. The artwork highlights the ongoing struggle of child labour and encourages the viewer to engage with the issue on a personal level.
