Shipbuilding c. 19th century

Curator: Up next we have "Shipbuilding" by Edward Goodall, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first impression is of a quiet, industrious scene. The image is small, almost delicate, centered on a very large field of paper. Curator: The activity depicted here offers a lens into the socio-economic structures of maritime communities. What kind of labor practices are present in a scene such as this? Who profits from it? Editor: It’s the raising of a monument, isn’t it? Ships are often symbols of transition, and in this case, the act of construction is a powerful one. The central placement of the ship on the page as well emphasizes this importance. Curator: I think it's useful to explore how this image reflects broader themes of industrialization and perhaps even exploitation within 19th-century society. We see a certain romanticized depiction of labor, but should also interrogate its potential omissions. Editor: Yes, perhaps. But the way the light catches the rigging also suggests a kind of reverence. It speaks to the hope invested in new beginnings and journeys. Curator: That's an interesting, alternative reading. I hadn't considered that symbolic connection so explicitly. Editor: It's always interesting to see the layers of meaning that an image can hold.