
This
black and white illustration or painting is of a gathering of women stood on
the end of a pier above what appears to be water. All of the women are chatting
to each other in groups and to differentiate the bodies Barnet has used
varying shades of grey and even put an ever so slight bit of detail in their
clothing. The long shawls, conservative hem lines along with their conventional
hair style tells me the women are from the Victorian era. The lack of colour
brings about a morbid feel to this artwork and this gives me the impression
they have all either been to a funeral in their dark attire or maybe that's
their everyday work wear and they're all taking a break in the fresh air from
the laborious daily grind. There are no men in this artwork, which reiterates
that this artwork is illustrating life from the Victorian era, as it was a time
when men and women took breaks from work separately. I get the feeling that
Barnet wasn't physically present at this gathering either, as the women are faceless
which gives off a dreamlike appearance. Or, maybe he even just created it from
a memory of a photo or from a detailed recollection from an acquaintance.