Klederdrachten van eiland Gozo 1778

Louis Ducros made this watercolor titled "Klederdrachten van eiland Gozo" sometime between 1748 and 1810. Ducros has rendered this scene with delicate washes, layering thin pigment to create the forms. Note the way he has paid attention to the clothing of the figures, including the soft cap of the reclining figure, and the broad-brimmed hat of the standing man. These details give the image its title, suggesting that Ducros saw it as a form of ethnographic record, documenting local folkways. However, if we look closer, we can see that Ducros also paid close attention to the worn-out posture of the figures. In the distance we see beasts of burden. Here, Ducros may be indicating the toll of labor upon the working classes. The relative ease with which watercolor drawings can be made allowed Ducros to capture this subject matter, a subject often excluded from painting at the time. Considering material, making, and context allows for a deeper understanding of this piece.