Gezicht op een sleepnet op het dek van de George S. Blake before 1880

This image captures a scene aboard the George S. Blake, focusing on the ship's trawl winch and fishing net, rendered in a photographic print. Photography, in its essence, is a craft of capturing light and shadow. The monochromatic tones in this photograph emphasize the stark reality of industrial fishing. We can see the texture of the ship's deck, the mesh of the net, and the robustness of the winch. The photograph serves not only as a visual record but also as a document of the labor-intensive processes involved in deep-sea fishing during the period. In the days before computer-controlled mechanization, such an image serves as an important social document, and its creation was directly tied to both the industrial and capitalist systems that propelled maritime industries. Considering the materiality of this photograph and the processes through which it was made allows us to think more deeply about the relationship between industry, labor, and representation. It challenges us to consider how the photograph fits into a broader history of creative practices and aesthetics, alongside craft and fine arts.