Vissersboot in de golven 1805

Robert Blyth made this print of a fishing boat in a storm using etching and engraving. The dramatic scene allows us to consider the relationship between humans and the environment, a theme very much alive in the late 18th century when this was made in England. Look closely and you will see the ways Blyth uses line to convey not only the forms of the boat and waves but also the emotional states of the figures on board. The image encapsulates contemporary debates about nature and the sublime, in which nature is seen as both a powerful and overwhelming force, and a source of spiritual experience. It connects to philosophical work of the time which was influenced by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of scientific rationalism. As art historians, we consult period writings about art and science to help reveal the complex interplay of social, cultural, and intellectual forces. This helps us to understand the visual culture of the past, which would be forever changed by the revolutions to come.