I love his style, oddly enough. I do a lot of historical fiction set in the period and his work really helps me picture the time and people better! I'm currently writing a book based off the folksong Hedger & Ditcher, hence why I found the painting!
Discussion
How interesting. So what is it about the folk song. As someone who didn’t know anything about it?
The folk song comes from an older version in Allan Ramsey's Scottish Miscellany, called "Slighted Nancie." I believe another version is called "Seven Braw Gowns."
The first verse & chorus are:
"My father's a hedger & ditcher
My mother does nothing but spin
They say I'm a pretty young girl
But the money comes slowly in
Oh, what will become of me?
Oh, what will I do?
There's nobody coming to marry me
Nobody's coming to woo."
And the song continues on in that vein!
And your writing a whole book on this? Folk songs tell us so much about our wonderful history from working class roots. Do you prefer the older folk/ sea shanty type, Nordic or like Woody Guthrie?