Ribbons And Laces For Very Pretty Faces Edmund Blair Leighton (1852-1922)

The composition presents a domestic scene unfolding on the threshold of a grand residence. Here we observe two young women and a child receiving a vendor at the entrance. The architectural setting is significant; its a spacious portico with classical detailing – columns, arches, and an elaborate fanlight – suggesting considerable wealth and social standing for the inhabitants. Light floods in from beyond, illuminating the figures and highlighting their attire.
The women are dressed in fashionable garments of the late 18th or early 19th century: one in a pale yellow gown with puffed sleeves and delicate lace trim, the other in a simple white dress accented by a red sash and matching hat. The child, a girl with auburn hair, is bundled in a shawl, her face partially obscured. Their expressions are polite but somewhat detached; they seem to be fulfilling an obligation rather than engaging in genuine interaction.
The vendor, positioned slightly lower on the steps, wears practical working attire – a dark green coat and breeches, a tricorn hat, and sturdy shoes. He offers a selection of ribbons and laces displayed within a woven basket. His posture is deferential, his gaze directed towards the women with an air of respectful expectation. The details of his hands, weathered and calloused, contrast sharply with the delicate fabrics held by the young women.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of class distinction and social hierarchy. The scene encapsulates a moment of transaction between two disparate worlds: the privileged elite and the working class. While the interaction appears cordial on the surface, it subtly underscores the power imbalance inherent in their relationship. The vendors presence is transient; he is permitted access to this opulent space only for the purpose of commerce, then must return to his own sphere.
The composition’s verticality emphasizes the social distance between the figures. The women are elevated on the steps, visually separating them from the vendor who occupies a lower position. This arrangement reinforces their superior status and highlights the inherent inequalities within society. The light itself contributes to this dynamic; it bathes the women in a warm glow while leaving the vendor partially in shadow, further emphasizing his subordinate role.
The overall effect is one of quiet observation – a glimpse into a specific moment in time that speaks volumes about social customs, economic realities, and the complexities of human interaction within a stratified society.