Bomschuit op het water 1830 - 1860

Albertus van Beest created this drawing of a fishing boat in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century, likely with graphite on paper. The wispy, thin strokes and delicate shading are characteristic of graphite, allowing for subtle gradations in tone and a remarkable sense of light playing across the water's surface. Look at how van Beest has used the soft, almost blurred quality of the material to evoke the constant motion of the waves and the boat's precarious position. The nature of graphite allows the artist to create a sketch-like quality, lending it an immediacy that suits the subject. The drawing’s focus on maritime labor highlights the work and the lives of the fishermen who braved the North Sea in these vessels. There is a tangible relationship to the materials and modes of production. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand the history of maritime culture and the tradition of drawing itself.