Pijprokende visser te Scheveningen 1825 - 1835

Jean-Baptiste Madou made this print, titled *Pijprokende visser te Scheveningen*, in the 19th century, capturing a man in the Dutch coastal town of Scheveningen. The print offers a glimpse into the lives of the working class, specifically focusing on the figure of a fisherman. Here we see the fisherman depicted with great attention to detail. His clothes and weary posture speak to the hardships he faces daily. Leaning against the fence with a pipe in his mouth, he seems lost in thought. Madou’s work reflects the romanticism of the era, but it also touches on the realities of labor and identity. Madou develops an alternative narrative, moving beyond idealizing the working class to show the pensive nature of a man tied to the sea for his livelihood. It acknowledges the quiet moments of reflection, shaped by labor and belonging.