Moving into the Boat 1861

Charles François Daubigny created this etching, "Moving into the Boat," during a time of significant social upheaval in France, shaped by industrialization and urbanization which uprooted many families. The image depicts a family seemingly displaced, with all their belongings packed onto a small cart. A young boy pulls the cart while the mother carries two small children, with a group of other children gathered around the cart. What does it mean to put your house onto a boat? The artist has depicted these figures without idealizing them, capturing a sense of weariness. Daubigny lived through the revolutions of 1848, and witnessed the impact of rapid social change on the most vulnerable. "Moving into the Boat" invites us to consider the human cost of progress, the struggles of those displaced, and the resilience of families facing adversity. It is a poignant reflection on social issues and a personal comment on the lives of ordinary people.