Twee vissersboten op zee 1870 - 1931

Curator: Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this sketch called "Two Fishing Boats at Sea" sometime between 1870 and 1931. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first impression is the almost hurried simplicity of it. The soft pencil rendering makes the sea and sky blend together. Curator: Absolutely, and what’s particularly interesting to me is how this impressionistic rendering reflects Tholen’s peers who explored working-class life—especially within Dutch maritime culture at the turn of the century. Editor: For me, the way the boats are rendered speaks volumes. Notice the lack of detail; just enough to evoke "boatness," yet not enough to individualize them. It makes you think about function over form. Curator: True, we see the boats primarily for what they do for the fishermen—as vehicles for labor—rather than as aesthetic objects. It reminds us that in much 19th century art, depictions of labor were tied to social concerns and anxieties about industrialization. Editor: The marks create almost a rhythm—a sense of the water moving. And it draws the eye towards the details in the main boat closest to us. Curator: Precisely. These sketches would have been precursors to larger oil paintings, serving as reference material for his studio. In this way the role and function of the work is particularly illustrative about his work method and how the broader artistic process and industry operated at the time. Editor: There is a beautiful, melancholic tone created with limited tonal range of a simple pencil. It also feels timeless in a way. Curator: Indeed, it highlights the quiet resilience of Dutch fishermen as they faced nature. Editor: Yes, and I’m also taken by the light touch and suggestive forms which make this so visually engaging. Curator: For me, this sketch embodies the period’s interest in capturing fleeting moments amidst a transforming society. Editor: It serves as a beautiful case study in how even simple pencil strokes can conjure such palpable feelings.