Burning Off 1930

Arthur Briscoe etched "Burning Off," a scene of maritime labor, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. The print presents a fascinating glimpse into a specific social and economic reality. Briscoe was known for his deep engagement with maritime life, and this work captures the gritty, physical labor involved in maintaining sailing vessels. The "burning off" likely refers to the practice of removing old paint or barnacles from the ship's hull using heat - hard work done by anonymous laborers. Consider the role of institutions in shaping this imagery. Maritime industries were central to the British economy at the time, and artists like Briscoe played a role in documenting and celebrating this aspect of national life. This print, with its focus on labor, offers a glimpse into the social conditions that sustained British maritime power. To fully appreciate this work, one might delve into archives documenting maritime labor practices, economic histories of British shipbuilding, and of course, the artist’s biography itself. Art, after all, is always contingent on social and institutional contexts.