Albert Chevallier Tayler (1862-1925) studied in Paris and lived in the artist's colony at Newlyn, Cornwall for twelve years before settling in London at the turn of the century. Life in Newlyn had provided the opportunity to paint social-realist subjects which he developed in London as Edwardian genre paintings. 'Sisters', exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1905, is truly an Edwardian 'problem' painting: a virtuous, working wife and mother denounces her 'fallen' sister while their mother averts her eyes. Unlike the Victorians' depiction of the desperate, fallen woman, this prostitute is proud and her obvious wealth commands respect. While a groom carries her bag and helps her into a hackney-coach, her sister tends a fish-stall in virtual rags