Domestic scenes in middle class homes were popular in nineteenth century magazines and newspapers. This 1843 example, entitled The Happy Family, glorified the middle-class home. The father, dressed not as a farmer but as a businessman or gentleman appears in the center, surrounded by his elegantly dressed wife and daughters. A maid appears in the background, holding the baby. The home is complete with elegant furnishings and a faithful dog. No evidence of the hard work needed to maintain the house and family is included in the image.
Print, Happy Family, by Engraver John Sartin for Miss Leslie’s Magazine, 1843. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)
Image featured in Investigating Family, Food, and Housing Themes in Social Studies by Cynthia Resor