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Scythe Smithy, Weybridge

Thomas Hennell

1941

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Social Realism Early Modern

Dominant colour

Scythe Smithy, Weybridge is a 1941 watercolor by Thomas Hennell, a Social Realism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Thomas Hennell
When & what style?: 1941 · Social Realism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a dim, cluttered workshop with rough brick walls and a low ceiling. A man in the center crouches over a forge, hammering metal, while another stands nearby holding a long tool. A woman in a dark coat watches from the right, and a child stands in the doorway on the left. The light comes through a small window, casting shadows on the uneven floor. The brushstrokes are loose and textured, almost like scribbles, giving the scene a rough, hurried feel. The artist focused on the gritty details—tools scattered everywhere, soot on the walls, and the worn-out look of the space. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this painting in person.

The story of this work

Overview

This watercolour by Thomas Hennell, titled *Scythe Smithy, Weybridge*, was created in 1941 as part of the Recording Britain project, a wartime initiative to document aspects of British life and landscape perceived as under threat. The work depicts a rural blacksmith’s forge engaged in scythe production, reflecting traditional craftsmanship amid changing agricultural practices. Part of a larger collection commissioned by the Pilgrim Trust and overseen by Sir Kenneth Clark, the project aimed to preserve a visual record of national identity during a period of potential upheaval. The resulting…

Read the full account in the museum source.