Onderhoud aan een schip in de haven 1866 - 1910

Frans Hens created this print, "Onderhoud aan een schip in de haven", depicting maintenance on a ship in the harbor. Hens, who lived through a transformative period in European history, captured slices of life reflective of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At that time there was increasing industrialization and urbanization. Here, the detailed rigging of the ship and the presence of laborers suggest not only the mechanics of maritime trade, but also the human element driving this industry. It prompts us to think about class and labor. Who are these men maintaining the ship, and what are their stories? What does it mean to engage with this kind of labor? The emotional weight of work, the dignity, and sometimes, the drudgery, are subtly inscribed within the fabric of the image. This artwork provides a glimpse into a world where labor and industry met the vastness of the sea, shaping identities and communities along the shoreline.