View of Mount Vesuvius as it was in 1757 1762

Charles François Grenier de Lacroix created this print, "View of Mount Vesuvius as it was in 1757" using etching in the mid-18th century. During this period, the volcano was a popular subject, often depicted as a sublime and awe-inspiring force of nature. However, this image also encapsulates the complex social dynamics of the time. In the foreground, local fishermen are shown at work. These figures, rendered with a certain ethnographic attention, stand in stark contrast to the implied presence of wealthy European tourists who would have purchased such prints as souvenirs of their travels. The print subtly highlights the class distinctions inherent in the 18th-century culture of exploration and leisure. The fishermen are literally and figuratively in the foreground of this depiction of the volcano. In this way, the print offers a glimpse into the lives of those who lived in the shadow of Vesuvius, their livelihoods intertwined with the volcano's volatile presence. It serves as a reminder of the human stories often overshadowed by grand depictions of nature.