A toddy-tapper and his wife
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1790
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
A toddy-tapper and his wife is a 1790 paint by Unknown, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows a man and woman standing barefoot on a dark blue ground. The man holds two clay jugs and a metal container, while the woman holds a cloth and a small box. Both are dressed simply, with the woman wearing a light skirt and the man a wrapped cloth around his waist. A large clay pot sits between them. The title says this is a "toddy-tapper and his wife," which means the man likely collects sap from palm trees to make a drink. The painting’s flat colors and simple shapes make it feel like a storybook scene. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more paintings like this.
The painting depicts a toddy-tapper and his wife, one of sixteen works illustrating castes and occupations, set against a plain yellow background. The series includes works by two different artists, with this pair distinguished by their yellow backdrop. It was transferred from the India Museum in 1879 and later recorded in the 1880 register as part of a set of framed illustrations.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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