Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale - The Little Foot Page

1905

The work is based on the story of Burd Helen, a tragic heroine from Scottish balladry, who dressed as a boy page to follow her cruel lover on foot while he rode on horseback. After bearing him a child, she was finally acknowledged by him and they married. Here she is shown secretly doffing her female attire and cutting her long hair, in preparation for her journey. Within a few years of the exhibition, modern female art students were cutting their hair in "page boy" style.