8 Fancy French Art of Commercial Fishing Prtnrs Like Us!

I just went to the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Washington, and my mind is still swirling with all the goodies to share with you. One fun fact is that I took over the National Fisherman booth for a Dockside Chat I called the “Partners of Commercial Fishermen Parlor.”

The idea of hosting a get-together instead of a speaking event is inspired by centuries of fishermen’s wives caring for families and fishing communities. I printed and displayed examples of the 19th-century art you’re about to see as an homage to the Partners of Commercial Fishermen before us. Just like the powerful and resilient women seen in these images, it also represents the strength and love that modern POCFs continuously give to fishing families and communities today.

Just think.

All of the emotions we go through as partners of commercial fishermen have been shared by POCFs for centuries. We are connected through threads of resilience, love, and pride.

After Googling “commercial fishing partners” and diving into a wormhole, I came across artist Virginie Demont-Breton (1859-1935). Through oil paintings, she captured the real, everyday life of POCFs that we all can relate to (and this was back in the late 1800s)!

Quick background: Virginie came from a family of French painters and started painting professionally as a teen. But it wasn’t until after she moved to the small seaside town of Wissant on the Côte d’Opale with her painter husband, Adrien Demont, that she began painting fishermen and their families. 

I really love her work, and I hope to soon hang a print on my wall in honor of us and the POCFs before us. We are not alone!

Here are 8 of my favorites. (Pay close attention to the expressions of the women. Think about what they might be thinking. Think about which one you relate with the most. You’ll notice the strong and powerful images of these women are also reflections of you!)

8 Relatable 19th Century Art of Partners of Commercial Fishermen by Virginie Demont-Breton

1. “Fisherman’s Wife Bathing her Children”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

2. “Lady on Beach Mending Fishing Net”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

3. “The Doorway”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

4. “Into the Water”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

5. “Her Man is at Sea”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

6. “The Man is at Sea” (after Demont-Breton), by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Virginie-Demont-Breton-Van-gogh

7. “The Beach”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

8. “The Tormented”

Virginie-Demont-Breton

Which Virginie Demont-Breton image speaks loudest to you and why? We’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

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  1. Hello, do you have a painting from Virginie Demont-Breton? Best regards. Yann

    • Hi, Yann! I do not have a painting, but it would be amazing if I did. I found these online and I believe they are housed in galleries in Europe. Hope this helps!

  2. I guess my fav might be the very first one and of course the Van Gogh. Those babies are so close in age, that women has her hands full, of course before birth control. It brings to mind the series I’ve been streaming “Call the Midwife”.

    • Hey, Goldie! Thanks so much for your thoughts! You’re right: Hands. Are. Full! I can’t imagine the stress of having to raise babies on your own while your man is out to sea and no technology to give a heads up that he’s safe or when he’ll return. That makes me tired just thinking of it. And I’ll have to check out that series. Sounds intriguing! Thanks again! xo