Opprobre / Dwangarbeid / 40 ans c. 1835 - 1839

Achille Girardot made this print titled "Opprobre / Dwangarbeid / 40 ans" using etching, a process that requires tremendous skill and exacting labor. The image depicts men in what appears to be a naval setting, performing hard labor. Their bodies are stooped and strained as they work, the weight of their labor evident in their posture. Consider the etcher's work too. Lines and shading build the image in great detail, demanding attention from both the artist and the viewer. The print also has a decorative border with foliage and birds. The text below the main image translates roughly as: ‘My life long, a slave’s complaint, I have not deserved it’. Girardot is drawing attention to labor, class, and the social conditions of his time. This artwork transcends traditional distinctions between high art and craft, inviting us to consider the social context and the amount of work involved in the production process.