The Games of Marbles 

Henry-Wilfred Deville made this etching called 'The Games of Marbles'. In the image, Deville presents the viewer with the everyday scene of children playing marbles in an urban landscape dominated by the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge, a symbol of modernity and progress, looms large in the background, while in the foreground children engage in a timeless, simple game. Produced at a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization, the image captures a slice of working-class life in New York City. The presence of the advertisement for 'Old Dutch Cleanser' hints at the domestic labor and consumer culture shaping urban life. Deville’s choice to depict this specific location also speaks to the city's transformation, as it represents a blend of old and new, industry and leisure. To truly understand Deville's art, we can turn to city archives, newspapers, and photographs from the period. We can then fully appreciate how art is always speaking to its own time.