Rentrée de pêcheurs à Martigues c. 19th century

Félix Ziem painted "Rentrée de pêcheurs à Martigues" capturing a return of fishermen in Martigues, likely in the 19th century. This oil painting arrives on the heels of the French Revolution, when the relationship between the working class and the ruling class was particularly fraught. Here, we see the artist's interest in rendering both labor and leisure. Note how the artist depicts the boats as part of the landscape, as though inextricably tied to the earth, sky, and water. The artist doesn’t appear interested in any one individual but rather the collective endeavour. The subject of fishermen is ennobled by Ziem's brush, yet he does not shy away from depicting the toil and collective spirit of these workers. It’s impossible to look at this scene and not feel the sun, smell the salt air, and imagine the laborious task of fishing. "Rentrée de pêcheurs à Martigues" creates a space for reflection on the dignity of labor and the beauty of solidarity.