Zeilboten bij Dordrecht 1851 - 1910

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching called "Zeilboten bij Dordrecht," or "Sailboats near Dordrecht," though we don’t know exactly when. The scene depicts sailboats on a Dutch waterway, perhaps commenting on the Netherlands' long relationship to the sea. Storm van 's-Gravesande lived during a time of vast change in the Netherlands. Rapid industrialization changed the economic and social landscape. Artists captured this evolution of the landscape, but it was not without its challenges. The art world became more commercialized, with artists reliant on dealers and exhibitions for their income. Storm van 's-Gravesande navigates these societal shifts while trying to stay true to a realist representation. Historical societies, archives, and museum collections can provide further insights into the artist's world. By researching these contextual elements, we come to understand the complex interplay between art, society, and the market.