In the Port of Bordeaux c. 19th century

Editor: This is Maxime Lalanne’s "In the Port of Bordeaux," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, detailed etching. I’m struck by how it captures the bustling energy of a port despite its size. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Lalanne presents the port as a vibrant, essential hub of Bordeaux. Etchings like this were instrumental in shaping perceptions of industrial progress and global trade. What stories do you think the ships carried beyond goods? Editor: Stories of colonialism and exploitation, I imagine? Curator: Precisely. Ports were not just sites of economic exchange, but also crucial to the history of colonialism and labor exploitation. Lalanne presents a romanticized view, obscuring the harsh realities of port labor, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. I hadn’t considered the implied narratives beyond the surface beauty. Curator: Considering what is deliberately left out helps reveal a richer understanding. Editor: Thanks, that adds depth to how I see it now.