Feeding pigeons, St. Paul's

In Grace Golden's carefully observed etching, a woman and children are depicted feeding pigeons near St Paul's Cathedral. They are surrounded by a crowd of onlookers and, nearby, a woman is shown selling bags of bird food. City life continues in the background as commuters pass by and a woman boards an bus.

Feeding pigeons was an activity associated with visitors to the city and tourist areas, such as St. Paul's and Trafalgar Square. A law was passed in 2003 which prohibited the feeding of pigeons by the public in Trafalgar Square. It was strongly opposed by some groups and a protest against the law was held outside the National Gallery.