Reproductie van een tekening van een groep mannen door Jean Mayné before 1883

This is Léon Evely’s reproduction of a drawing of a group of men by Jean Mayné. Evely, born in France in 1849, was active during a time of significant social and political upheaval. The print depicts a cluster of men gathered tightly around what seems to be a pole, perhaps working together on a ship. There's a sense of physical exertion, of bodies pressed close in collective labor. What does it mean to depict a group of men working in close proximity in this moment of modernity? Are we seeing the depiction of labour as heroic? The composition seems to evoke a sense of solidarity and shared purpose amidst what was potentially a period of rapid industrialization. Consider how the emphasis on male camaraderie and labor contrasts with the realities of inequality and class struggle prevalent during the artist's lifetime. Does it offer a romanticized vision of working-class life? Or does it reflect a genuine appreciation for the efforts and resilience of laborers?