A Sardine Cannery in Concarneau 1879

Peder Severin Krøyer painted “A Sardine Cannery in Concarneau” using oil on canvas. This is quite traditional, of course. But look closer. The subject matter gives us pause. Instead of a society portrait or a historical scene, we are presented with a fish processing plant! Krøyer's subdued palette captures the harshness of the setting and the repetitive nature of the work. The women’s skilled labor is on full display, sorting and preparing sardines for canning. The activity is framed by the architecture of the factory. A timber frame, likely built by shipwrights, giving us a sense of the location on the coast of Brittany. Baskets brim with the catch; other containers suggest the brining of the fish. What makes this painting significant is its depiction of labor. Krøyer elevates the everyday work of these women, challenging the hierarchy between fine art and the crafts, while offering a glimpse into the realities of early industrial food production.