Zeilboten bij oever 1863 - 1883

This etching, "Zeilboten bij oever" or "Sailboats by the Shore," was made by Adolf Carel Nunnink in the 19th century. It's a print, meaning it was made using a matrix – in this case, a metal plate. The artist would have painstakingly scratched lines into the plate, then applied ink, and pressed it onto paper. The incredible detail achieved in the depiction of the boats and the water is something to behold; it speaks to Nunnink's skill with this process. The tonal range is impressive. Notice the texture of the sky, achieved through careful application of the etching technique. Etching, like other forms of printmaking, opened up art to a wider audience during this period. It allowed for the relatively inexpensive reproduction of images, challenging the traditional hierarchy that placed unique paintings above all other art forms. This shift reflects broader social changes, including the rise of a middle class with an appetite for art and culture. It is a reminder that art is never truly divorced from the society in which it is made, and this print embodies that connection.