Monument van Feniciërs of Carthagen op eiland Gozo 1778

Louis Ducros made this watercolor and pen drawing of the Monument of the Phoenicians or Carthaginians on the island of Gozo. Ducros used traditional materials, pen, and watercolor to make this picturesque artwork. The medium is quite thin, especially when compared to the subject matter. The rocks, depicted with a light touch, stand as a testament to immense amounts of manual labor. This monument, built from large stones, tells us about the modes of production and social structures. While Ducros rendered the rocks with a gentle palette, it is important to recognize the extraction of the rocks and construction of the monument would have been difficult. The artwork speaks to issues of labor and class. It is important to consider both Ducros’s labor in documenting the scene and the labor involved in constructing the site itself. As you consider the scene before you, remember that materials, making, and context are all intertwined. This allows us to have a more complete understanding of the artwork.