Sunshine

Sunshine, by L. Smythe, in Wallis's Winter Exhibition, Suffolk-Street, 1865. Engraving of a painting. 'The scene,...as is evident by the quaint caps and head-gear of the women...is on the neighbouring coast of France - somewhere, we should say, along the seaboard of Picardy or Artois. It is a scene which...anyone might see, strolling about the neighbourhood, say, of Boulogne or Calais...The buxom lass of the picture, full in the sunbeam, leaning back in her chair to indulge in a more complete abandonment of mirth, is but a type of her joyous, witty, and innocently-coquettish class. To all this cheerful group of women and children the sunshine brings gladness and content, and lights them to weave hope with the meshes of their net; for, while that sun smiles on them, no shadow of apprehension for husband, father, son, brother, lover, away reaping the sea, can darken that humble dwelling'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865. Creator: W Thomas. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)