Schets van vissers in bootjes en detail van een visser 1834 - 1872

This drawing of fishermen in boats, with a detail of one of them, was made by Frans Arnold Breuhaus de Groot in the 19th century, using graphite. The artist has given us an immediate sense of the scene, with the figures quickly sketched. But it’s more than just a record of labor, it is an acknowledgement of the fisherman’s hard work for his survival. The marks on the paper speak of the artist’s own labor, as does his decision to focus on the tools of the trade: the boats and the nets. These are the direct instruments that these men have to ensure their livelihood, and their families' sustenance. With just a few pencil strokes, Breuhaus de Groot captures a sense of the broader economic realities. The drawing challenges us to think about how the artist chose to depict everyday life, and the nature of labor.