To Pick Up a Fish 

This etching, titled ‘To Pick Up a Fish,’ was created by Perry Oliver, who was born in 1880. It shows a working-class man, likely a fishmonger, with a full box of fish balanced on his head while scales hang from his hands, one fish flops on the ground. Oliver's composition captures a scene of everyday labor, offering insight into the lives of those whose work often goes unnoticed. This image resonates with the turn-of-the-century interest in depicting ordinary subjects, far from the traditional grand narratives of art. The detailed lines of the etching emphasize the texture of the man's clothing and the roughness of his hands, highlighting his physical labor. Oliver invites us to consider the dignity and struggle inherent in this man's work.