Vier scheepslieden op een boot 1860 - 1921

Adolf le Comte made this sketch titled 'Four Sailors on a Boat' using graphite. Consider the period in which le Comte was living: the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when industrialization rapidly changed labor conditions and maritime work remained a crucial but often harsh occupation. The artist’s choice to depict sailors invites us to reflect on the lives and identities of these workers. Who were these men, and what were their stories? Were they young men seeking adventure or seasoned mariners? The sketch hints at camaraderie and shared experience in what would have been a challenging environment. Through a contemporary lens, this artwork offers a window into a world of predominantly male labor, prompting us to think about gender roles and the historical exclusion of women from such professions. Le Comte’s sketch, with its intimate and immediate feel, reminds us of the human element in maritime history.