Udsigt over Dieppe havn (Vue prise dans le port de Dieppe) 1771

Jeanne Françoise Ozanne made this print of Dieppe harbor in France sometime in the late 18th century. It captures a bustling port scene with ships, figures on the quay, and buildings nestled against the cliffs. Ozanne's work provides insight into the visual culture and economic activities of 18th-century France. We see the importance of maritime trade and the social interactions within a port city. The print is dedicated to a local notable, suggesting the role of patronage in artistic production at the time. The inscription also hints at the complex social hierarchies of pre-revolutionary France. As historians, we can delve deeper into understanding the print's context. Researching the history of Dieppe as a port city, the economic conditions of the time, and the social roles of individuals depicted would all shed light on the print's meaning and significance. Art, after all, is contingent on its social and institutional context.