19th-C. French Fishing Boats Off Calais

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Some painting subjects must be captured from life in their own time to connect with the viewer. Men engaged in … Read more Some painting subjects must be captured from life in their own time to connect with the viewer. Men engaged in fishing for their livelihood is one of them. In this intimate canvas, the artist has shown us the risks of rough seas even under sunny skies, as well as endless competition for the catch looming in the background. And which two or three crewmen get picked to venture out in that vulnerable dinghy? Aboard the tiny boat, they’d be constantly adjusting their balance and enduring chilling sea spray while directly holding fishing lines or even trawling, done by dragging a line with multiple hooks. Their reward? Only to row toward the mother ship several times a day to unload their catch and, hopefully, for some relief. Likely the creator was English, given the handwritten description on the back of the canvas. Sadly, the artist's identity is lost with time. See less