Fishing Boats Tossed before a Storm c. 1840

Eugène Isabey’s "Fishing Boats Tossed before a Storm" was created with watercolor, probably sometime in the mid-19th century. The artwork is full of movement and drama, illustrating the power of nature over humanity. Isabey lived through a time of huge social upheaval in France. His artistic production can be understood in the context of the Romantic movement of the early 19th century, which saw artists turn away from the formal restraint of preceding generations. This new aesthetic emphasized individual emotion and the sublime power of nature. Institutions like the École des Beaux-Arts shaped artistic production during this period, yet artists like Isabey also sought their own means of expression. What is interesting about Isabey's work is that it depicts ordinary people caught up in the storm; the fishermen are anonymous, but nonetheless central to the drama of the scene. To understand the painting more fully, we could research the historical context of French maritime activity and consider the role of the fishing industry in French coastal communities. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.