Seaside Sketches - A clam-bake 1873

Editor: This is "Seaside Sketches - A Clam-bake" by Winslow Homer, I'm unsure of the date. It looks like a wood engraving. I'm struck by the casualness of the figures, but also the division present between the adults and children. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a social commentary embedded within this seemingly idyllic scene. The clam bake was a communal activity, yes, but who was included? Who had access to this leisure? Consider the historical context; did everyone truly have an equal opportunity to enjoy the fruits of the sea? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't thought about it like that. It makes you wonder about the labor involved and who benefits from it. Curator: Exactly! And what is obscured by the smoke plume rising in the background? What tensions are simmering beneath the surface of this coastal gathering?