Terugkerende vissers c. 1873

"Terugkerende Vissers" (Returning Fishermen) is an etching by Dutch artist Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande, dated c. 1873. The artwork depicts fishermen returning to shore, climbing down a ladder from their boat, which is being repaired on the beach. This detailed etching, housed in the Rijksmuseum, captures the harsh reality of life for those who worked the sea, and the precariousness of their daily work. Van 's-Gravesande's use of light and shadow creates a sense of realism, while the rough textures of the wood and sand convey the harshness of the environment.