Vloed bij Katwijk 1869 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching, Vloed bij Katwijk. The incised lines you see were created using sharp tools to cut into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. This printmaking process has a direct bearing on the image itself. Look closely, and you'll notice the emphasis on line. See how van 's-Gravesande captures the scene with so few strokes. The medium lends itself to atmospheric effects, rendering light and shadow with great subtlety, from the darks of the boat to the misty sky. This method of image making was very well suited to capture the nature of the sea. But the process goes beyond that. Etchings like this one were relatively easy to produce, which made them affordable. This meant that ordinary people could own them, a democratization of art that coincided with the rise of industrial production. It’s a reminder that the art and craft worlds are always in dialogue with wider social issues, politics, and economics.