Vissersboot op het water 1830 - 1860

This sketch, *Vissersboot op het water*, was made by Albertus van Beest some time before his death in 1860. Van Beest lived and worked in a tumultuous period of European history marked by revolution, colonialism and industrial expansion, elements that are subtly woven into this quiet scene of Dutch fishermen at sea. There's a particular tension in marine art, as the sea has historically been a place of both opportunity and danger, a place that provides livelihoods, yet also often claims lives. Van Beest captures this tension in his subtle handling of light and shadow on the water. Note how the rough sea emphasizes the vulnerability of the fishermen.   The artist was working at a time when there was growing awareness of the working classes. Instead of the glorious ships of empire, or leisure boats of the wealthy, Van Beest depicts a modest fishing vessel with it's crew, highlighting their connection to the sea and their humble way of life. The sketch serves not only as a landscape but as a silent recognition of the labor and lives of ordinary people.