Zeilschepen en roeiboot 1843 - 1863

Adolf Carel Nunnink made this print of sailing and rowing boats using etching and aquatint. At first glance, this may seem like a simple waterscape scene. But it's worth considering the labor involved, even if it's not immediately apparent. Nunnink has spent hours creating the design, making the plate, and pulling the print. And even before him, others would have been involved in the sourcing of materials. The soft tonal gradations of the image, achieved through the technique of aquatint, create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The dark lines of the ships are achieved through the etching process. Look closely, and you can see the patterns of labor throughout, and the effects of the Industrial Revolution that allowed the materials to be produced. Thinking about the time and skill involved, helps us to see these works as more than just pretty pictures. They are records of specific processes, and cultural moments.