Gezicht op een schip met zwaarden bij een pier 1850 - 1899

Louis Jaugey made this print of a ship with swords near a pier sometime in the 19th century. Jaugey lived through a period of significant change in France, including the Franco-Prussian War and the rise of the Third Republic. Here, the quotidian scene of dockworkers unloading cargo carries the weight of larger geopolitical forces which shaped the artist's reality. The swords, likely destined for military use, are a blunt reminder of the ongoing conflicts of the time. The toil of the working class becomes visible through the two anonymous figures, one in the water, the other perched precariously on the boat's edge. There’s a sense of vulnerability as the print captures the essence of labor, set against the backdrop of industrial expansion. This piece serves as a quiet commentary on the intersection of everyday life and broader historical currents. It acknowledges the human cost of progress and conflict during Jaugey's lifetime.