Fishing 1863

Edouard Manet made this oil on canvas painting, called ‘Fishing,’ at an unknown date. In this painting, we can see that Manet is exploring social class. The fishermen labor, perhaps without even noticing the finer people to the right of them. Meanwhile, the gentleman and lady seem to be using the working-class scene as something like a theatrical backdrop. Manet, who lived in France during the 19th century, painted many scenes of modern Parisian life. His work often commented on the vast divide between the aristocracy and the working class, which was expanding even further due to France’s industrialization. Perhaps Manet suggests that wealthy people’s leisure time is made possible by the labor of others, such as these fishermen. Art historians can use census data to learn more about the economy of France at this time. In addition, studying the history of clothing can reveal even more about how class functions in this picture.