Omhoog zetten van de mast 1781 - 1822

Hermanus Fock created this etching, entitled 'Raising the Mast', at the turn of the 19th century in the Netherlands. It's a scene of everyday life, depicting the kind of labour that would have been extremely familiar to people living there at that time. The image presents a small boat and the figures working to raise its mast, and the scene takes place in a rural setting, marked by windmills in the distance. Holland's extensive waterways were crucial for transport and trade, vital to the nation's economy, and images like this remind us of that. How should we consider this image? Is this an accurate representation of the Dutch waterways, or is the artist presenting an idealised view of this essential economic activity? Perhaps, by looking at the artist's other work and the institutions he was associated with, as well as the records relating to Dutch maritime activity, we can better understand the public role of such imagery.