Man Painting his Boat 1883

Georges Seurat made "Man Painting his Boat" around 1883, likely using oil on panel, in the environs of London. It shows an artist painting en plein air, mirroring Seurat's own artistic practice. The artwork is of interest to the social historian because it's a view into the professionalization of the artist in the 19th century. Before this time, artists were commonly commissioned by patrons and were not necessarily free to paint what they wished, or how they wished. As the art market expanded, artists were more free to express themselves. This painting seems to self-consciously participate in that shift. To understand this piece more fully, we might examine art market records, institutional histories of art academies, and artists’ biographies from this period. These resources allow us to contextualize the changing place of art in society. The meaning of art changes based on social and institutional conditions.