Ved Skagens Stand 1894

Carl Locher created 'Ved Skagens Stand,' a print of an image of a group of fishermen struggling to launch their boat into the rough sea. The print was made using a photogravure process, which is a method of etching a photographic image onto a copper plate, then using that plate to make a print. This process would have involved a collaboration between a photographer, a skilled engraver, and a printer. The image is striking, but I'm drawn to the labor-intensive photogravure process used to create this print. It elevates a scene of arduous physical labor through skilled handwork. The act of depicting the fishermen's toil becomes a form of work itself, mirroring the effort and skills in the act of printing. Locher’s print reminds us that even seemingly simple images involve layers of production, each with its own value and implications. The finished print transcends the division between labor and art, and invites us to appreciate the convergence of craft, technique, and artistry.