Vissersboot op het strand 1841 - 1850

Léon Jean Baptiste Sabatier's Vissersboot op het strand is a print made using a technique called etching, sometime before the artist's death in 1887. The material reality of the etching influences its appearance, with the network of tiny lines creating a range of tonal values and textures. These lines were created by drawing into a wax ground on a metal plate. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit away at the exposed metal, leaving behind an incised design. The laborious process of creating an etching, which requires a high level of skill and craftsmanship, imbued the print with social and cultural significance. Consider the tradition of printmaking, which democratized image production and distribution, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Here, the imagery of the fishermen alludes to the hardships faced by maritime communities, as they struggle to make a living from the sea. In appreciating the work of Sabatier, we move beyond a purely aesthetic evaluation, to consider the labor, the materials, and the broader social context in which the artwork was created.