Man Making Faggots after 1853

Jacques-Adrien Lavieille made this print called, ‘Man Making Faggots’ sometime in the mid-19th century. Lavieille presents us with a scene of rural labor, a man diligently bundling firewood. In 19th-century France, such imagery wasn't just about depicting everyday life, it was a statement. The rise of industrialization led to a romanticization of rural life, and artists like Lavieille played a role in shaping that perception. Looking at the composition, the man's posture and the detailed rendering of the wood suggest an honest portrayal of labor, perhaps even intended to ennoble it. Was this image meant for urban consumers, who had little knowledge of this type of labour? Was the artist trying to communicate the nobility of these workers or the drudgery of their existence? To truly understand this work, we’d need to delve into the journals, newspapers, and economic surveys of the time. Only then can we understand the role of art in shaping perceptions of labour and society.