Let’s get lost in the sauce, shall we? And by sauce, I mean 19th Century art that could be us today. Just think. All of the emotions we go through as partners of commercial fishermen have been shared by POCFs for centuries. Damn, we’re a tough bunch!
After Googling “commercial fishing partners” and diving into a wormhole, I came across artist Virginie Demont-Breton (1859-1935). Through oil paintings, she captured the real, everyday life of POCFs that we all can relate to (and this was back in the late 1800s)! Quick background: Virginie came from a family of French painters and started professionally painting as a teen. But it wasn’t until after she moved to the small seaside town of Wissant on the CĂ´te d’Opale with her painter husband, Adrien Demont, that she began painting fishermen and their families.Â
Here are 8 of my favorites. Pay close attention to the expressions of the women. Think about what they might be thinking. Think which one do you relate with the most? You’ll notice the strong and powerful images of these women is also a reflection of you!
8 Crazy-Relatable 19th Century Art of POCFs Like Us!
1. “Fisherman’s Wife Bathing her Children”
2. “Lady on Beach Mending Fishing Net”
3. “The Doorway”
4. “Into the Water”
5. “The Man is at Sea”
6. “Her Man is at Sea” (after Demont-Breton), by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
7. “The Beach”
8. “The Tormented”
I guess my fav might be the very first one and of course the Van Gogh. Those babies are so close in age, that women has her hands full, of course before birth control. It brings to mind the series I’ve been streaming “Call the Midwife”.
Hey, Goldie! Thanks so much for your thoughts! You’re right: Hands. Are. Full! I can’t imagine the stress of having to raise babies on your own while your man is out to sea and no technology to give a heads up that he’s safe or when he’ll return. That makes me tired just thinking of it. And I’ll have to check out that series. Sounds intriguing! Thanks again! xo