Fishing Boats c. 1881

Charles A. Platt created this etching titled, "Fishing Boats" sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Platt, an American artist, provides us with a window into a maritime world, where labor and leisure intersect on the open water. The fishing boats aren't just objects; they're a stage for the lives of those who depend on the sea. Look closely and you can imagine the sailors, their livelihoods tied to the daily catch, their identities shaped by the rhythms of the ocean. The composition is subtle. Platt gives emphasis to the boats closest to the viewer, while other boats can be seen further afield. This suggests a community, one that invokes the shared experience of working the sea, where the labor of fishing is both a personal and a collective endeavor. Platt’s "Fishing Boats" reflects the spirit of its time, inviting us to consider the relationship between labor, leisure, and the sea.