Brushing Collection (#4)

Toothbrush with toothpaste

Djibouti, East Africa - A Young girl cleans her teeth
Djibouti, East Africa (then French Somaliland) - A Young girl cleans (the exact translation is " rubs" ) her teeth. Date: 1905

Picture No. 10771053
Bernese Mountain Dog - puppy being brushed Date:

Picture No. 10773074
Cat - Ginger cat in garden brushing up against owner's legs Date:

Brushing powder through fur of long-haired Blue Persian cat

Myanmar, Burma, Mrauk U. An old man sweeps the road at Mrauk U

Is the Labourer worthy of his hire?, 1829. Artist: George Cruikshank
Is the Labourer worthy of his hire?, 1829. From Scraps & Sketches by George Cruikshank. [George Cruikshank, London, 1829]

Hat Maker. Manufacture of beaver hats by felting material in a kettle (background) and blocking (shaping) the hat and brushing the pile. Although called beaver, little or no beaver fur was used

Men at work in a stable
Men at work grooming horses in a stable, London horseguards. Date: circa 1960s

Gibbs Happy Families - Miss Sparks the Electricians daughter. 20th century

Cat on a Christmas card, polishing a shoe. Date: circa 1900s

Illustration by Cecil Aldin, Crackers dog show inventions (with the authors apologies to Heath Robinson). Smoothing the Scotch Collie, Pampering the Pom, and Improving the Kerry Blues Beard

War-Time Economies Doing without Braces, WW1 Heath Robinson
War-Time Economies - A Sensible Way of Doing Without Braces. Another ingenious idea from William Heath Robinson, who suggests a strong magnet as an alternative to braces in order to keep ones

Dutch cub scout polishing shoes, Netherlands, no doubt in order to earn a proficiency badge

Firefighters with sweeping brushes, Southwark HQ
Firefighters with sweeping brushes at Southwark HQ, taking part in an escape competition

The Service Safety Haircutter, WW1 advertisement
Advertisement for the Service Safety Haircutter, allowing users to trim and comb hair daily and to remain presentable in the process, even if away fighting at the front. Date: 1917

Children at County Showground, Cornwall
Two children and a cow at a County Showground, Cornwall

Grooming a mule, WW1
Three soldiers struggling to groom an unruly mule in his stall with one of them grumbling, " Nah tehn, Undred Legs!" Date: 1916

Mothers Crossing Sweeper by Muriel Dawson -- a little girl sweeps autumn leaves from the doorway. Date: 1930

Sketch of man with sweeping brush
Sketch of a man with a sweeping brush. Date: 1922

art equipment
Illustration of a art equipmant

Footwear manufacturing, cleaning and brushing machine
Illustration of a footwear manufacturing, cleaning and brushing machine

Girl brushing her long wavy hair

Illustration of of girl kneeling on grass as she brushes pet dog

Three steps of proper tooth brushing

Souvenir d Auteuil, 1881 (oil on cardboard)
XIR895864 Souvenir d Auteuil, 1881 (oil on cardboard) by Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de (1864-1901); 70x56 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Souvenir d Auteuil Note: signed bottom right)

Poster for la Pate dentifrice du docteur Pierre. Doctor Peters toothpaste, Boutet de Monvel, Louis-Maurice (1851-1913), Artist

Woman Combing her Hair, 1887-90 (pastel on paper)
XIR3691 Woman Combing her Hair, 1887-90 (pastel on paper) by Degas, Edgar (1834-1917); 82x57 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris, France; (add.info.: Femme se peignant, dit aussi la chevelure; ); French

The Hair, c. 1892 (oil on canvas)
XIR204985 The Hair, c.1892 (oil on canvas) by Cross, Henri-Edmond (1856-1910); 61x46 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris, France; French, out of copyright

A Sicilian Playing with her Hair (oil on canvas)
XKH235519 A Sicilian Playing with her Hair (oil on canvas) by Cusa, Michele (1799-1870); 79.7x64.1 cm; Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg

Cloth Merchants Window (stained glass)
XIR155370 Cloth Merchants Window (stained glass) by French School, (15th century); Church of Notre-Dame, Semur-en-Auxois, Burgundy

Young Women at their Toilet (woodcut) (b / w photo)
XIR154634 Young Women at their Toilet (woodcut) (b/w photo) by Harunobu, Suzuki (1725-70); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jeunes Femmes a leur Toilette; ); Japanese, out of copyright

Young Woman Combing Her Hair (oil on canvas)
XIR154633 Young Woman Combing Her Hair (oil on canvas) by Bray, Salomon de (1597-1664); 54x46 cm; Louvre, Paris, France; Dutch, out of copyright

The Courtesans Coiffure, c. 1700-14 (ink on paper)
XIR178786 The Courtesans Coiffure, c.1700-14 (ink on paper) by Kaigetsudo, Ando (18th century); 91x47.5 cm; Galerie Janette Ostier, Paris

A pug is combed with a brush by its owner, outdoor

Toothbrushes in a toothbrush tumbler

Woman in evening dress brushing hair, (B&W), portrait

Young woman brushing hair, at home, (B&W), portrait

Woman brushing hair in bedroom, (B&W), portrait

Woman in underskirt brushing hair in bedroom, (B&W), portrait

Boy brushing teeth, portrait

BRUSHING TEETH, c1910. First graders brushing their teeth outside of school in Washington, D.C. Photograph, c1910

Picture No. 11067031
Guinea Pig with girl. brushing. Date:

Advertisement for Lifeguard soap -- little girl and adult female models posing (Sandra Palmer and Geraldine Hill). 1959

Japan - Silk Industry - Gathering silkworms from egg paper
Japan - Silk Industry - Gathering the silkworms from the egg paper using a delicate feather brush. Date: circa 1909

Advice to would-be brides - The housework ahead
Advice to ladies about to be married - To get used to house-work! Try a few weeks Charing. The sender of this card has added the waggish line: " Hope you won t grease the stairs for me

Dartford Fs Show. Break up. 1934

Burst watermain in Plumstead. Clearing water from the local greengrocer shops. 1938

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Brushing has been a timeless ritual, spanning across various cultures and eras. From the curling rinks of Scotland in 1869 to the luxurious Trumpers Barbers in Mayfair, London, it has always held significance. Even our furry friends like the Yorkshire Terrier know the importance of a well-groomed coat, while artists like Barribal capture beauty through their exquisite depictions of a lady in pink underwear or Edgar Degas' portrayal of a woman at her toilette. The act extends beyond personal grooming; it encompasses oral hygiene too. A man diligently brushes his teeth, ensuring a bright smile that radiates confidence. During World War II, even amidst chaos and uncertainty, Land Girls took time to brush their hair as they worked tirelessly on farms. Artists have long found inspiration in capturing moments involving brushes. Whether it's Harold Hare meticulously grooming his fur or a young boy conscientiously brushing his teeth before bed - these scenes evoke innocence and care. Sketch studies by talented artists provide glimpses into intimate moments where women comb their hair or engage with brushes from behind Parisian windows. These artworks remind us that brushing is not just about appearance but also self-care and reflection. In every era and context, brushing remains an essential part of our daily routines - symbolizing attention to detail and self-presentation. So let us embrace this simple yet significant act that connects us across time and culture: whether we are curling on Scottish ice or standing at our bathroom sinks each morning, there is power in the brushstroke that shapes both our physical appearance and inner selves.