Philip Rogers was one of the many Victorian artists who visited Jersey, attracted by the unspoilt countryside and dramatic scenery. The Victorian period was one of increased industrialisation and urban growth. As a reaction to this, artists often idealised the countryside in their paintings. They painted rural landscapes full of sentimentality which appealed to the taste of the day. In this painting, sunlight shines on the two figures in the foreground as they spin and knit. The Jersey cow did not develop as a breed until after this painting was made, so here they are painted in a variety of colours, as they would have looked at the time.