Harold Harvey grew up in Penzance, Cornwall in the 1870s and 1880s when Newlyn was becoming an artistic haven. He began his painting career as a follower of the early Newlyn artists, particularly Stanhope Forbes (1857-1948). After studying in Paris in the 1890s he returned to Penzance, before moving to Newlyn after his marriage to a local artist, Gertrude Bodinna.'The Critics' is recognised as one of Harvey's best interior scenes. The figures depicted here are Ella Naper looking over the shoulder of Gertrude Harvey, both seemingly involved in examining another artist's works, possibly the third party at the table.