Lobster Fishermen 

Curator: Looking at Kitty Lange Kielland's watercolor titled "Lobster Fishermen," what strikes you first? Editor: It has a distinctly somber mood, despite the coastal setting. The palette feels muted, almost grayed out, which lends a sense of quiet and the weight of the labor being depicted. Curator: Exactly. Kielland's artistic practice often involved exploring labor through materiality. Note the use of watercolor; its fluidity lends itself beautifully to rendering the coastal environment and its ephemerality, but she also harnesses it to depict the working lives of fishermen. It challenges notions of traditional watercolor practice and moves it towards realism. Editor: It's interesting to see how she uses a seemingly light medium to portray a lifestyle dictated by harsh conditions. The figures blend seamlessly with their surroundings, the boats, and the lobster traps, symbolizing how deeply intertwined the fishermen are with the landscape. The image also suggests a communal relationship with fishing culture, showing an array of tools together. I am interested to know more about how the artist captured this specific setting and what social elements went into constructing that scene. Curator: This piece captures the period when genre-painting became a way to depict working life in painting through impressionist means. Kielland wasn't merely depicting an aesthetic landscape; she highlighted the working class of Norwegian fishermen. And with such limited access, especially being a woman in the 19th century, she created an insightful representation that offered commentary on Norway's societal structures. Editor: I appreciate that she drew attention to Norway's dependence on coastal fishing for the economy. And she challenged established notions of who gets represented in art and where the canvas rests in art history, whether within still-life depictions or moving on to depict impressionist seascapes. I have more questions about her practice now than when we began, fascinating! Curator: Absolutely. Kielland masterfully navigates the complexities of art production and the historical underpinnings embedded within societal structures while contributing her insights into the working lives and visual culture of coastal Norway.