Who painted The Right of Way?

The Right of Way was painted by Frederick Walker in 1875.

Where can I see The Right of Way?

The Right of Way is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Right of Way?

The Right of Way is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Right of Way

Frederick Walker , 1875

The Right of Way is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Frederick Walker. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Frederick Walker’s 1875 pencil drawing, titled *The Right of Way*, functions as a preparatory study for a larger oil painting of the same name that was exhibited at the Royal Academy that year. The work captures a fleeting scene of two women walking side by side, rendered in a light, gestural manner that emphasizes movement over detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a pair of women traversing a path together; one guides a small child’s hand while the other carries a basket. Their modest attire—simple dresses with loose sleeves and flowing skirts—suggests everyday life in Victorian England, inviting viewers to consider themes of companionship, domestic responsibility, and the ordinary journeys of women.

Technique & Style

Executed in pencil, the study employs swift, almost sketch‑like lines that convey a sense of immediacy. The drawing’s minimal background isolates the figures, allowing the ripple of fabric and the gesture of the figures to dominate. The loose handling of line and the unrefined surface give the work a documentary quality, akin to a visual note taken on location.

History & Provenance

Created as a preparatory work for Walker’s Royal Academy painting, the drawing remained in the artist’s studio before entering private collections. It later surfaced in the holdings of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is catalogued among Walker’s studies that illustrate his method of developing narrative scenes through rapid observational sketches.