Paper Gallery

Eve of the 30th - correcting plans at a tavern, 1845. Creator: Unknown

Eve of the 30th - correcting plans at a tavern, 1845. Finalising railway applications for the Board of Trade: The scene was an animated one...But an hour remained, and yet some thirty individuals were in waiting with huge piles of parchment and the various necessary documents. Anxiety was depicted on every countenance - some fearing that, after all the labour and excitement they had undergone, they would not be able to complete the requisite formalities within the very limited time that remained. Eager inquiries were made from one to the other as to the opinion whether those who had actually arrived with their plans would be allowed to remain and complete the business after the hour of twelve had arrived, and various and amusing were the mutual recitals made of the "hairbreadth" escapes and daring doings of those entrusted with the task of lodging the respective plans'. From "Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII

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“‘Little Purple Gromwell (Wakamurasaki): Shosho

"'Little Purple Gromwell (Wakamurasaki): Shosho," from the series Scenes amid Genji Clouds Matched with Ukiyo-e Pictures (Genji-gumo ukiyo e-awase), ca. 1845-61

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19th Century, Animal, Artistic School, Arts, Bird, Birdcage, Birds, Century, Character, Color, Colour, Country, Edo Period, Escape, Escaped, Escaping, Female, Full Length, Genji Monogatari, Heritage Art, Ichiyusai, Ink And Colour On Paper, Japan, Japanese, Kuniyoshi, Kuniyoshi Utagawa, Literature, Location, Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Murasaki, Museum, Nineteenth Century, Paper, People, Printing, Scroll, Sparrow, Sparrows, Tale Of Genji, Tegoshi No Shosho, The Met, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, The Tale Of Genji, Ukiyo E, Utagawa, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Weather, Wind, Windy, Woman, Women, Woodblock Ban Print Nishiki E, Woodblock Print

Code and Cypher Officer, c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton

Code and Cypher Officer, c1943. The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs, was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Its members did not serve as aircrew, but although they did not participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the home front working at military installations. Among their duties were: crewing of barrage balloons, catering, meteorology, radar, aircraft maintenance, transport, communications duties including wireless telephonic and telegraphic operation. At its peak strength, in 1943, the number of WAAFs (members of the force) exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week. From "Wings On Her Shoulders", by Katharine Bentley Beauman, Late Fight Officer W.A.A.F. [Hutchinson & Co Ltd, London, New York, Melbourne, c1943]

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