Rotterdam, Scène De Port 1907

Maximilien Luce captured this scene of Rotterdam harbor using oil on canvas. Look closely, and you'll see how the strokes of paint are laid down individually, a technique known as pointillism. But what is he actually showing us? Not just a pretty picture, but the heart of industrial activity. The ships, belching smoke, are testaments to human labor and global trade. The materials – steel, coal, and water – come together through human ingenuity and hard work, forming ships and driving their engines. The artist draws attention to the vessels that carry commodities around the world. This industry created a new class of worker, and with it, new kinds of social awareness. Luce wasn’t only interested in aesthetics; he was deeply engaged with social issues. He used his craft to elevate the importance of labor, placing it squarely within the realm of art.