Hoisting the Sail 

John George Brown's "Hoisting the Sail" is an undated oil painting that captures a lone sailor in what appears to be a moment of labor. Looking at the image, it seems to romanticize the life of the common seaman. Made in America, perhaps in the late 19th century, the picture presents a working-class figure with a certain dignity. Brown might have been commenting on the changing social structures of his time, possibly reflecting a nostalgia for simpler times amidst growing industrialization. The sailor, though working, seems to be at peace with nature, an idea that would have resonated with the art-buying public. As art historians, we can explore census records, shipping manifests, and period literature to get closer to the social and institutional context of this picture. Brown’s choice of subject and style tells us much about how he wanted his art to be seen and the values he was promoting in a rapidly changing America.