Gezicht op de haven van Vardø c. 1880 - 1887

Curator: Here we have Louis Apol’s "View of the Port of Vardø," likely created sometime between 1880 and 1887. The artwork, held here at the Rijksmuseum, is a drawing on paper. Editor: It’s all charcoal greys, shimmering almost like mist. I'm struck by how he uses just a few lines to suggest a bustling harbor scene, shrouded in a hazy atmosphere. Curator: Absolutely. The sketch provides a glimpse into the fishing industry that was prevalent in the area and its social and material implications. It likely reflects the increasing industrialisation of the North Sea fishing industry and its connection with coastal communities. Editor: And the way the lines of the ships mirror those of the buildings along the shore is just fascinating. It shows a deep understanding of structure and form. Apol captures the very essence of the scene using these very subtle strokes. It makes me want to contemplate line weight and shading. Curator: I agree. We have to recognize how drawings like these document labour history of sailors and fisherman, in that part of Norway, at this time. Vardø served as a strategic place, and its people have been known to fish some of the most unforgiving waters in the world. Apol likely drew some quick sketches of them doing this important job. Editor: Fascinating point. He uses an Impressionist style which lends itself to capturing transient atmospheric effects. There is little colour, yet the interplay of light and shadow imbues the image with so much character. Curator: And we can see this technique employed by the artist when dealing with these industrial spaces, that were inhabited and maintained by so many nameless men and women, whose contribution may remain obscure if it was not through works of art such as these, works that display fishing as hard work that requires endurance and resistance. Editor: It does give us an image into the harsh conditions of their labours. Ultimately it goes back to Apol's masterful handling of shape and form that creates this haunting image. Curator: Yes, it’s an intersection of aesthetics and socio-economic conditions that make this sketch worthy of closer observation and critical understanding. Editor: A successful intersection of these factors by Louis Apol.