The Pottery
1897
Fernand Cormon transports us to the Stone Age in this dramatic 1897 sketch, capturing a moment of daily life amidst a massive migration. In the foreground, a woman kneels to shape a large clay vessel, completely focused on her craft, while a rugged warrior stands guard behind her, clutching a shield and sword. Behind them, a vast crowd of cloaked figures stretches into the distance, winding along a rocky path that suggests a long, arduous journey. Cormon was famous for his gritty, realistic depictions of prehistoric life, and this piece perfectly shows the contrast between domestic survival and the harsh reality of ancient travel. Interestingly, Cormon ran a legendary Paris art studio where Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec were once his students!