Making the Channel 

Arthur Briscoe, who lived from 1873 to 1943, made this watercolor, titled "Making the Channel." Briscoe's choice of watercolor is key, a medium allowing for fluidity and translucence, mirroring the shifting, ephemeral nature of the sea. The washes of color blend and bleed, suggesting the constant motion of water and light, capturing the essence of a fleeting moment at sea. But beyond the surface beauty, consider the social context. Briscoe was deeply immersed in maritime culture, spending much of his life aboard boats, so he knew firsthand the labour involved in seafaring, and he conveys a sense of the working conditions of sailors. It wasn’t romantic for them, it was just work, in tough conditions. The sketchiness of the rendering conveys how routine the scene would have been to those involved. Ultimately, Briscoe's work reminds us that art is not just about what is depicted, but how it is made, and what materials can tell us about the world around us.