Houtvlot met woonhutten en bemanning zakt Rijn af in buurt van Bonn 1785

This etching by Carel Frederik Bendorp, made in the late 18th century, captures a timber raft carrying people down the Rhine near Bonn. In this period the river was a vital artery for trade and transportation. The artwork provides a glimpse into the lives of the working class, who used these rafts as both homes and a means of livelihood. Consider the laborious nature of their existence, navigating the river with entire families in tow. These people are rendered as mere figures within a vast landscape, highlighting their anonymity and the scale of their labor. Is this depiction one of romanticism, reducing the working class to picturesque elements? How might our view of this scene shift if we heard the stories and acknowledged the complex experiences of those on the raft? The artist offers a window into a society shaped by trade and labor, inviting us to reflect on the human stories often overshadowed by grand narratives.