The Outcast (Redgrave painting)

"The Outcast" is the title of a painting by British artist Richard Redgrave, completed in 1851. It is a notable example of Victorian social realism, depicting a family ostracizing their daughter due to her perceived transgression of societal norms, specifically having a child out of wedlock.

The painting typically portrays a somber scene within a domestic interior. A young woman, clearly distressed and holding a baby, is being ushered out of the home by her stern father. The mother often displays a mix of grief and disapproval, while other family members, present in the background, convey varying degrees of judgment and pity.

"The Outcast" speaks to the prevalent moral codes of the Victorian era, which heavily stigmatized illegitimacy and placed immense pressure on women to conform to strict standards of sexual propriety. The painting's narrative highlights the social consequences faced by women who deviated from these expectations, including familial rejection and societal marginalization. Redgrave’s work aimed to provoke empathy for the plight of these women and served as a critique of the rigid social structures that perpetuated their suffering.

The painting is often discussed in the context of other Victorian artworks that addressed social issues, such as those by William Holman Hunt and George Elgar Hicks. It remains a significant work for understanding the social and moral climate of 19th-century Britain and the challenges faced by women in that period.