Joan Eardley RSA (British, 1921-1963) Two Girls (Studio inventory number ED 4 Executed in 1962)Joan Eardley RSA (British, 1921-1963)Two Girls pastel on glasspaper27.6 x 23.1cm (10 7/8 x 9 1/8in).Studio inventory number ED 4 Executed in 1962ProvenanceWith Aitken Dott & Son, Edinburgh, 1964.Private collection, UK (acquired from the above for £45, 1964); thence by descent to the present owner.ExhibitedEdinburgh, Aitken Dott & Son, Festival Exhibition, 1964, cat. no. 73.This is likely to be two of the twelve Samson children. The family lived in Rottenrow where tenements were marked for demolition. Their faces and features held idiosyncrasies; squints, buck teeth, missing teeth, fiery red hair, all of which captivated Eardley. Drawn by the warmth of the stove and the promise of thruppence, the children had the run of her studio.In a recent interview, Pat and Ann recalled their childhood and friendship with Eardley."We were like urchins...running about the streets, snottery-nosed, manky. It was pure poverty. We had nothing. It was 'first up, best dressed' – whether it was boys' or lassies' clothes, we just wore them.""I had a face round like a turnip, carrot-red hair and violent squints. I had two bad squints in my eyes and sometimes I think that's what attracted Joan. The squints and the colour of the hair." (Ann and Pat Samson interview for The Girls in the Pictures: Joan Eardley and the Samson Children, A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first aired 11 April 2023)