This etching was made by Louis Orr when he toured the South of France following the Armistice in 1918. It shows fishing vessals from the Provencal town of Saintes-Maries-de-la Mer returning from their day of work out on the water. The image was originally printed black-and-white, but has been re-inked in a range of sepia tones to better emphasize the extraordinary treatment of the sky, which recalls J.M.W. Turner's atmospheric marine studies of the 1830s - 40s.

Orr skillfully captures the quick choreography attending small sailing boats coming safely to harbor. The dense cross hatching of the furled sails creates striking contrasting forms set against the brilliant sky beyond, and was doubtless the product of many progressively darker proofs. Two etchings from this period are known - this is the more important of the two.

This image persuasively depicts the fisherman as they complete their day's work.Seen mostly in silhouette, they strain against the water, waves, and wind to make fast the boat's rigging, sail, and anchorage. Fishing has long since departed from the economy of the South of France - this image is a poignant artifact of a time and place that has now largely passed into the mists of memory.