View of a square in Avignon, with a hardware store 1880

Johan Barthold Jongkind painted "View of a square in Avignon, with a hardware store" using watercolor to capture a bustling French town. Jongkind, a Dutchman, spent significant time in France, deeply influencing, and being influenced by, the emerging Impressionist movement. This work offers us a glimpse into 19th-century French society, class, and labor. The hardware store, prominently displayed, points towards a growing industrial society, while the figures populating the square—presumably local workers and merchants—tell a story of everyday life. Consider what it meant to be a woman during this period, navigating public spaces, conducting business, and caring for families. The details of their clothing, the expressions on their faces—invite reflection on their lived experiences. Jongkind's loose brushstrokes and airy composition evoke an ephemeral, momentary experience. What can we learn about a society through the simple act of observing a public square? What stories remain untold?