La Vieille Balayeuse, Dieppe 1913

Curator: Charles Ginner's, La Vieille Balayeuse, Dieppe, currently held in the Tate Collections, presents a bustling street scene. Editor: It’s immediately striking how Ginner renders the textures of labor and urban life with such palpable grit. Curator: Indeed, Ginner, active between 1878 and 1952, often focused on the working class and the everyday realities of city life. Editor: You can really see that in the thick layering of the paint itself. The materiality speaks volumes about the labor depicted, the coarse broom and worn clothing. Curator: Absolutely, and Ginner’s choice of subject matter aligns with his interest in portraying the social fabric of his time, giving voice to the unseen workers who maintain urban spaces. Editor: The repetitive, almost rhythmic brushstrokes echo the repetitive nature of the sweeper’s task. It's a powerful connection between process and subject. Curator: I think that connecting the act of creating the painting with the labor involved in the work it depicts is a valid point of view. Editor: Seeing the material reality represented with such honesty really reframes how we consider value and labor.