BR35005 Rachael Young Woman with Baby, 1795-1820

This young mother embodies the casual look of a working class woman with a simple apron tied around her waist and a kerchief (a square piece of cotton cloth or fine linen) over her neck and shoulders. Both apron and kerchief aid in keeping her dress clean while she does her daily chores. She has her hair tucked up in a turban to keep it clean and away from little grabbing hands. The child is wearing a simple dress to ease in the changing of dirty linens. The sex of the child is indeterminate as boys wore dresses up until the age of two or three years old.