Hired Hands 1822

Louis Léopold Boilly created this lithograph, “Hired Hands,” capturing a slice of Parisian life around the turn of the 19th century. The print invites us to consider the lives of the working class in a rapidly changing urban environment. Here we see two men, likely day laborers. One is burdened with a heavy load, while the other rests, exhausted, his posture speaking to the physical demands of their labor. Boilly's composition highlights the stark class differences of the era, where economic survival often depended on grueling physical work. The artist captures a fleeting moment of respite amidst the daily grind, inviting empathy for these figures who might otherwise be overlooked. Consider the emotional weight carried by these men, who represent a larger segment of society whose stories are rarely told. Boilly’s “Hired Hands” serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of labor and the inequalities that persist in society.