The Boat Set Afloat 1770

Editor: Marie Rosalie Bertaud's "The Boat Set Afloat," is a monochrome print depicting a coastal scene with figures launching a boat. I’m struck by the contrast between the detailed foreground and the hazy background. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This print intrigues me. Note the detailed depiction of labor - the straining figures pushing the boat, the idleness of the seated figure, and the privileged onlookers. What do these contrasting roles suggest about the production and consumption within this coastal community? Editor: It's interesting to think about their roles. The print becomes a commentary on the social structure involved in maritime activities. Curator: Precisely. The material conditions of their lives, dictated by their labor and status, become visible through Bertaud's careful engraving. Editor: So, the artwork is not just a pretty picture but a glimpse into the lives and labor of the people involved? Curator: Indeed. By looking at the means of production and the depiction of labor, we gain a deeper understanding of the social and material realities it represents. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way before. Thanks!