En orlogsskonnert 1858

This is Emanuel Larsen's etching, "En orlogsskonnert." The print is made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then using immense pressure to transfer the ink onto paper. The resulting image gains its character from the sharp, unwavering quality of the etched line, which here perfectly captures the might and scale of the ship. But let’s think about this image in relation to the vessel it depicts. Before the age of steam, the construction and operation of sailing ships required immense labor. Shipwrights, sailmakers, and navigators contributed their specialist knowledge, while sailors faced the daily grind of maintaining and maneuvering the ship in all conditions. This print celebrates that collaboration. Even though Larsen’s etching is on a small scale, it’s a reminder of the vast network of workers and skills that made maritime transport possible. Thinking about this, we begin to see how prints like these have their own kind of value, distinct from the ships they represent.