🍽️ Time for a Sunday roast? Here’s housekeeper Grace Higgens preparing a meal in our kitchen. We still use this kitchen table today! For over 50 years, this room was Grace’s domain. Although Vanessa Bell spent much of her time managing the household, she still needed to paint! Hiring staff like Grace meant Vanessa had more time in the day to get her own creative work done. 🌽 When Vanessa made this painting in 1943, the family were living at Charleston full-time during the Second World War. Rationing was strict and it’s most likely that the vegetables you see here were grown in our garden by Grace’s husband, Walter. 🔉 Head to our free digital guide to hear Grace herself talking about her life at Charleston. 🔗 Tap the link in our bio to download the @BloombergConnects app. 🖼️ Vanessa Bell, The Kitchen at Charleston, c.1943, The Charleston Trust © estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved, DACS 2022 #GraceHiggens #VanessaBell #Charleston #DuncanGrant #BloomsburyGroup #Lewes #Firle #Painting #1940sPainting #BritishArt #ModernArt #BloombergConnects