Coast Scene 1836

James Ward made this painting, using oil on canvas, to depict a coastal scene. The material qualities of oil paint are vividly on display here; notice how Ward built up layers of pigment to capture the textures of sand, wood, and roughspun fabric. The materiality of the painting is emphasized, mirroring that of the objects and landscape it represents. The image reflects the labour of coastal communities in the 19th century. The figures engaged in loading cargo onto horse-drawn carts suggests the movement of goods and the economic activities tied to maritime trade. The painting captures a moment of transition, where human effort and animal power are central to production and trade. Ward's attentiveness to materials and making processes invites us to think about art as embedded in social and economic life, rather than separate from it.