3-034-711 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"Kept In", by Julius Geertz, 1871. Engraving of a painting. 'It is no paradox to affirm that it is often the best compliment you can pay an artist to say very little of his work; and the compliment is certainly well deserved in the case of this pleasant picture by M. Julius Geertz, of a scene of German peasant family life. The pencil here can well afford to dispense with the pen - indeed, there is nothing left for the latter. Even without the title one could not fail to guess the crime with which the father is taxing the late-returning schoolboy; and the justice of the accusation is confessed in the boy's downcast, shamefaced look. He has already had to pay a penalty for ill-learnt lessons; and a further punishment is, perhaps, in store: the bread and water set at his vacant place at the table may be all that he has to expect for dinner to-day. His judges, however, are not of the most unrelenting, and grandmother, very possibly in collusion with others of the family, will assuredly take pity on him by-and-by. To-morrow the road to learning may be easier; but if not, why, how many a dunce of the village has not in time proved its brightest ornaments!'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.