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An artisan and his family looking forward to seeing more of the Sun when the Window Tax
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An artisan and his family looking forward to seeing more of the Sun when the Window Tax
An artisan and his family looking forward to seeing more of the Sun when the Window Tax, imposed in 1696, would be repealed in 185. Cartoon by Richard Doyle from Punch, London, 1851
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Media ID 9756419
© Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group
1851 Artisan Cartoon Doyle Family Forward Government Nineteenth Century Punch Repealed Richard Window 1696 Imposed
EDITORS COMMENTS
In this charming nineteenth-century cartoon by Richard Doyle from Punch, London, we are transported back to a time when the British government imposed an unusual tax on windows. The image depicts an artisan and his family eagerly peering out of their window, yearning for more sunlight. This whimsical scene captures the anticipation felt by many as they awaited the repeal of the Window Tax in 1851. The artist skillfully portrays the joy and hopefulness radiating from the artisan's family as they look forward to brighter days ahead. Their expressions convey a sense of longing for freedom and connection with nature that had been limited by this peculiar tax. The Window Tax was introduced in 1696 as a means to generate revenue for England's coffers. It levied taxes based on the number of windows in a property, leading many homeowners to brick up or reduce their windows to avoid excessive charges. As such, natural light became a luxury that only those who could afford it could enjoy fully. Doyle's cartoon serves as both social commentary and entertainment, highlighting how even mundane aspects of life can be subject to governmental control. Through his artistry, he invites us into this historical moment where ordinary people eagerly anticipated liberation from financial burdens and longed for simple pleasures like basking in sunlight streaming through their windows once again.
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