Het te water laten van het schip, plaat nr. 5, ca. 1700 1690 - 1710

This etching, made around 1700 by Sieuwert van der Meulen, shows the launch of a ship. As a print, it is of course made using ink on paper, but it gives us so much more. The image celebrates shipbuilding, a vital industry in the Dutch Republic. The technique of etching is an indirect process, where the artist creates the image using acid to ‘bite’ into a metal plate, allowing for finely detailed, reproducible lines. The qualities of the etching beautifully capture the labor-intensive work of shipbuilding, and the social context of maritime trade. Notice how the ships, rendered with precision, dominate the scene. In contrast, the workers appear smaller, yet their collective effort is clearly essential to the grand spectacle. This contrast highlights the hierarchy inherent in the maritime industry, where the labor of many supports the wealth and power of a few. Understanding the materials, processes, and social context of such works challenges traditional distinctions between art, craft, and industry.