Raderstoomboot in de storm 1844 - 1845

Léon Jean Baptiste Sabatier’s “Raderstoomboot in de storm” is a lithograph, a printmaking technique that gained popularity in 19th-century France. The image depicts a paddle steamer struggling against a tumultuous sea, a scene charged with drama. Consider the cultural context: France, during this period, experienced rapid industrialization, including advancements in maritime technology. Paddle steamers symbolized progress, but also humanity's vulnerability to the forces of nature. Such images, often reproduced in periodicals, reflected anxieties about technological hubris and the sublime power of the natural world. The Rijksmuseum, where this print resides, plays a crucial role in shaping its meaning. As a national institution, it elevates what might have been a popular, commercially-driven image to the realm of art, inviting us to contemplate its historical significance. To truly understand this artwork, one might explore archives of maritime history, studies of 19th-century French print culture, and the institutional history of museums like the Rijksmuseum. Art history thrives on contextual inquiry.