Bloomers / Leech
Poster Prints from Mary Evans Picture Library
Bloomers / Leech
A girl wearing bloomers is the centre of attention
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 582676
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10030655
1854 Attention Bath Bloomers Fast Immoral Leech Shocking
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: A Shocking Splash: The Girl in the Bloomers and the Leech, 1854 This intriguing photograph, taken in 1854, captures the attention of onlookers with its unusual combination of elements: a young girl in bloomers, a chair, a bath, and a leech. The girl, dressed in the controversial and fast-emerging fashion of bloomers – loose-fitting trousers for women – sits in a chair, her expression one of mild surprise as she gazes at the leech attached to her foot, submerged in the bathwater. Bloomers, first introduced in the 1850s by Amelia Bloomer, were considered a radical departure from the traditional Victorian women's attire. They were perceived as immodest and even immoral by some, as they revealed the shape of a woman's legs. The girl in this photograph, with her bloomers and bare feet, would have caused quite a stir in the Victorian era. The presence of the leech adds an unexpected layer to the image. In the context of the time, leeches were often used for medicinal purposes, such as bloodletting, to treat various ailments. The girl's nonchalant expression and the fact that she is not recoiling from the leech suggest that this was a common practice in her household. Despite the shocking nature of the image, it offers a glimpse into the historical context of the time, revealing the complexities and contradictions of Victorian society. The girl's bloomers, an emblem of women's liberation and progress, are juxtaposed with the traditional medical practice of using leeches, highlighting the coexistence of the old and the new in the rapidly changing world of the mid-19th century.
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