Fisherman’s Family 1878 - 1888

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes made this ink and watercolor sketch of a "Fisherman's Family" sometime in the mid-19th century in France. The image depicts three figures in a classical composition of maternal life. We might see a reverence here for the traditional family and a focus on the dignity of labor. But in the cultural context of the Second Empire and the early Third Republic, this image is also about the politics of art institutions. Puvis de Chavannes was not a traditional academic painter, but his classicizing style was adopted by the French state in public murals to promote certain social ideals. In the context of rapid industrialization and social upheaval, Puvis offered images of harmony and stability. As historians, we should look to the critical reception of his work, reading reviews and exhibition catalogues to fully understand the dynamics of conservative and progressive artistic movements. This helps us to see the complex interplay of art and social institutions.