Port of Marseille 1754

Claude-Joseph Vernet made this painting of the Port of Marseille using oil on canvas. While the artist clearly shows us the big ships in the port, and the architecture of the city itself, he's equally interested in the activity on the ground. The real focus is on the laborers, who are busy unloading goods. This was long before containerization of shipping. The work of moving product was physical, exhausting, and required many hands. The artist's careful representation of all this human effort is crucial. Remember, this was a time when the Industrial Revolution was just beginning. Before long, machines would take over many of these tasks. Vernet’s painting captures a moment of transition. It serves as a reminder of the labor that underpinned 18th-century commerce. So, next time you see a grand historical painting, remember to look closely. The making of art, and the making of history, often comes down to the work of ordinary people.