The Poor Fisherman 

"The Poor Fisherman", by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, is made with oil on canvas using traditional painting methods. The flat, muted tones emphasize the figures' weariness, reflecting the relentless labor of their existence. The fisherman’s humble boat, constructed with basic carpentry, suggests a life of manual work, far removed from the comforts of the bourgeoisie. The artist is inviting us to consider the social conditions of the working class. Interestingly, though, the composition also seems to aspire to the condition of fresco – and so, while representing the lives of ordinary laborers, the work seems to also aspire to the condition of "high art," to distance itself from the everyday realities of manual making. Ultimately, "The Poor Fisherman" encapsulates the power of materials, processes, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.