Riviergezicht met stoomschip 1862 - 1910

Maurice Hagemans created this etching, "River View with Steamboat," using black ink on paper. The composition, enclosed within a rectangular frame, captures a serene river landscape dominated by a steamboat. The artist uses dense, fine lines to render the scene, creating a soft tonal quality. The river and sky are filled with horizontal strokes that reflect light. Hagemans' style reflects a formal interest in how an industrial subject like a steamboat interacts with the natural elements. This piece can be interpreted as a study in contrasts, between the solid, angular form of the steamboat and the fluid, atmospheric qualities of the water and sky. The monochromatic palette emphasizes texture and tonal gradations rather than color, guiding our focus to the structural elements of the scene. Note how the use of line in the water suggests both movement and reflection, while the steamboat stands as a darker, more defined mass. This formal arrangement invites contemplation on themes of modernity, industry, and their place within the environment.