RETURN OF THE FISHING BOATS, ÉTRETAT 1879

Giovanni Boldini painted "Return of the Fishing Boats, Étretat" using oil on canvas with an Impressionist's flair. Boldini captured a bustling scene on the shores of Étretat, a town known for its fishing industry. He vividly portrays the return of fishing boats, a scene filled with the labor and efforts of the working class. The painting emphasizes the material reality of the fishing trade, from the wooden boats to the nets, the catch, and the clothing of the figures, tying it to labor, politics, and consumption. Every visible item signifies the fisherman's hard work, like ropes and wooden planks that were essential for a successful fishing trip. The composition celebrates the skill involved in traditional crafts, and in the working lives of the fishermen and their families. Boldini makes sure that we do not forget the labor and craft that go into capturing that scene in Étretat.