Buying Fish at the Quayside, 1904
For centuries fishing was the main industry in St Ives and the principal fishing port of the north coast of Cornwall. At the time of the photograph the quayside would be busy with people buying and selling fish fresh from the sea. (I always try to spot if there is anyone not wearing a hat in old photograph but as can be seen, as usual, everyone is wearing one). There is still a small fleet of fishing boats here but now its main industry is tourism. The narrow streets, quaint alleyways, galleries and restaurants are busy all summer long.
The card is one of the Nostalgia Postcards series published in 1992 which was exactly a year before the Tate Gallery opening its branch gallery here. St Ives is a popular retreat for artists, the most famous in the past being Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth. The Tate also now also owns Hepworth's house and sculpture garden. The garden is said to hold her favourite pieces.
No comments:
Post a Comment