The Call of the Night-Sweepers 1890

Curator: This is "The Call of the Night-Sweepers" by Auguste-Louis Lepère. It's striking how the artist captures the mood of this occupation. What's your immediate reaction? Editor: It feels somber and quite stark. You can almost smell the damp streets. I'm curious about the labour conditions depicted. Curator: Lepère, born in 1849, often focused on the lives of working-class Parisians. This print reflects their social reality and the burden they carried. Editor: The way he's rendered the textures of their clothing and equipment… you can feel the weight and coarseness of the materials. Curator: It's a powerful social commentary on class, illuminating the often-unseen workers essential to the city’s function. Editor: Definitely. The dark palette emphasizes the grueling nature of the work. Makes me think of the historical context of sanitation and public health. Curator: Lepère gives us a glimpse into lives often ignored, urging empathy. Editor: A strong statement through the act of printmaking itself. Curator: Indeed, revealing a world beneath the surface. Editor: Food for thought about the unseen labor in our own lives.