A Dredge n.d.

Charles Meryon rendered "A Dredge," an undated drawing, with graphite on paper. Meryon, a 19th-century artist, navigated a society undergoing significant industrial and urban transformation. This drawing depicts a dredging boat and hints at the themes of change and human intervention in the natural landscape. The artist's personal struggles with mental health add another layer of interpretation to his work. The dredge is depicted in stark, precise lines, highlighting the gritty reality of labor. Meryon’s choice to focus on industrial subjects challenged traditional artistic conventions, which often favored romantic landscapes or historical narratives. Instead, Meryon was interested in the working class experience and the urban environment around him. Meryon once said, "I have always loved what is disappearing." In its simple lines, the drawing captures a moment of transition and prompts us to reflect on the human and environmental costs of progress.