Strand in a fog

William Heath's drawing depicts the Strand engulfed in fog and the impact of the adverse weather on passers-by. A woman on the far right holds a handkerchief up to her face, while a man nearby carrying fruit shouts at a pedestrian in his way. A disorientated man can be seen standing in the middle of the road, with his arms outstretched. The carriages have been brought to a stand-still and are observed by a young crossing sweep sitting on the pavement with a dog nearby.

By faintly sketching in the figures and vehicles in the background, Heath subtly evokes the foggy atmosphere. In Our Mutual Friend the fog is described as follows 'It was a foggy day in London and the fog was heavy and dark ... the whole metropolis was a heap of vapour charged with muffled sounds of wheels and enfolding a gigantic catarrh'.

The drawing has an inscription stating that it was once owned by Charles Dickens.