The Grape Harvest 1740 - 1801

Philippe Louis Parizeau made this print, The Grape Harvest, using etching, a process that democratized image-making in the 18th century. The original drawing was by Boucher, but Parizeau’s skill with the etching needle allows us to see the scene with stark clarity, every line and mark a testament to his labor. The figures are idealized peasants, seemingly enjoying their work, but the print elides the realities of agricultural labor, and the power structures of the wine industry. While seemingly light and playful, The Grape Harvest is made possible by intensive work that went into the vineyard, the harvest itself, and finally the skilled printing process. With its reproducible nature, etching brings this vision of labor into many hands, though not necessarily to those who toil in the fields.