A Girl Crossing a Stream

Paintings of girls in a picturesque country setting were common in Colman's time and, in this instance, the artist may well have been inspired by an engraving of one of Gainsborough's paintings. Unusually, there is no evidence here of Colman's deep Christian faith which is often the focus of his work. However, there is a far greater sense of the purity and innocence of the child than is usual in such subjects.