Bubbles (Child with Cat and Kitten)
Mass-produced color lithographic print on paper, likely a magazine supplement or advertisement premium. • John Arthur Lomax or Jules Hayllar (signature partially visible as J. Hayllar). This print reproduces a popular Victorian genre scene.
Style & Movement
Victorian Narrative Painting / Academic Realism; sentimental genre scene.
Medium & Technique
Color lithography / chromolithography. The image mimics the appearance of a painting with soft tonal gradations but displays a uniform, printed texture.
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (Original painting c. 1880-1890).
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 15 inches; landscape format within a decorative marbled border.
Subject Description
A young child in Victorian dress, including a red tartan skirt and lace-trimmed apron, is depicted in a field. Next to the child is a cat and kitten. The scene evokes domestic or rural tranquility and childhood innocence.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair. The print shows significant signs of age and poor storage conditions.
Estimated Market Value
$20 - $50 USD. As a mass-produced print in poor condition, its value is primarily decorative rather than as a fine art investment.
Auction Estimate
$10 - $30 USD (suggested as part of a larger lot of ephemera).
Provenance History
Likely a household decorative item from the early 20th century; no formal gallery provenance visible. Marks on the border suggest it was once framed or pinned to a wall.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the late 19th-century boom in affordable color printing and the Victorian taste for sentimental, moralizing images of children and animals. It has cultural value as social history of the period.
Notable Features
Features a distinct marbled inner border characteristic of late 19th-century mass-market framing styles; includes a partially visible signature ('J. Hayllar') in the lower-left quadrant of the image.
Condition Issues
Severe surface craquelure/cracking to the print layer, loss of pigment in high-light areas (possibly due to moisture or heat), corner damage, and staining on the wide white margin.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional restoration is likely cost-prohibitive. To prevent further decay, store in a pH-neutral, acid-free folder away from direct sunlight and high humidity. Avoid glass-on-print contact.