Gezicht op het overwinden van een scheepshol over de overtoom te Zaandam 1794

Daniël Veelwaard made this print of a shipyard in Zaandam using etching and engraving, two processes that demanded absolute precision. Look closely and you'll see the intricate network of fine lines that bring this busy scene to life. Veelwaard would have painstakingly cut these lines into a metal plate, using different tools to achieve varying depths and thicknesses. Think about the labor involved in creating this image, and how this informs the way we understand the shipbuilding industry depicted. The viewpoint is carefully arranged to show the shipbuilding industry, and the viewer is invited to witness the labour-intensive methods of production, as a ship’s hull is painstakingly manoeuvred across the overtoom, a device used to lift ships over obstacles, like dams. Considering the material properties of the print and the precise labour involved, we can appreciate the value placed on skilled craft and the depiction of industry.