A Hansom Cab Stand

In this West End night scene, a couple in evening dress are shown approaching the foremost of two hansom cabs, which have drawn up at the kerbside of a brightly lit street. The driver of the cab is in shadow, holding the reigns of the horse in front, while an omnibus passes by in the opposite direction.

Hansom cabs first appeared on the London streets in 1835 and Stahl's painting depicts the two most characteristic features of these vehicles: the exceptionally large wheels and the positioning of the driver's perch at the rear. These features ensured a high degree of balance and, as a result, safety. Following the introduction of the first London taxicab in 1907, the hansom cab went into inevitable decline.

Very little is known about the artist P. Stahl, who was active during the latter part of the nineteenth century.