Schepen en ambachten 1873

This print, “Schepen en ambachten,” by De Ruyter & Meijer, depicts ships and trades, and it's made using a combination of printing techniques, likely including lithography or engraving, to produce both the linework and the color. The print is organized as a kind of sampler, showing the tools and processes of shipbuilding alongside images of the finished products in action. What’s really interesting here is the juxtaposition of skilled craft and industrial ambition. You see people working with hand tools, but also sailing ships dependent on global trade. The very act of printing these images also speaks to the growth of industry. The print itself is a commodity, intended for widespread distribution. It makes us wonder about the labor conditions behind its production and the social context that allowed for the celebration and circulation of these kinds of images. Ultimately, “Schepen en ambachten” serves as a reminder that the things we create are embedded in a web of social, economic, and material relationships.