Reproductie van een prent van vissers in Scheveningen before 1883

This is Emile Aubry’s reproduction of a print of fishermen in Scheveningen. The fishing community of Scheveningen, near The Hague, existed within a very specific socio-economic context, distinct from the rest of the Netherlands. As such, 19th-century Dutch art often romanticized the life of the fishermen, portraying them as rugged, independent figures, living in harmony with the sea. In this image, we see these fishermen as individuals defined by their labor, and their connection to nature. Aubry captures a sense of the hardiness required to confront the elements, and perhaps the gendered division of labor within the fishing community. There's a certain dignity conferred onto the subjects, but it’s difficult not to consider if these images romanticize the lives of these laborers. Does it offer a genuine glimpse into their lives, or does it project the desires and fantasies of a society far removed from the daily struggles of these individuals?