Ein Fluss, belebt mit Schiffen und Schiffern, dabei ein Städtchen 

Cornelis van Noorde created "A River, animated with ships and sailors, with a town in the background," using pen and brown ink with gray wash. This work offers a glimpse into the lives of 18th-century Dutch laborers. We see figures engaged in the daily toil of fishing, their bodies bent in labor, set against the backdrop of a modest town. Noorde, who came from a family of artists, was working in a time when the Dutch Republic’s Golden Age had faded, and economic disparities were pronounced. The artist's choice to focus on the common laborer elevates their status, offering a glimpse into the lives of those often unseen. The detailed rendering of the ships and the fishermen suggests a deep respect for their craft. The emotional weight of this piece lies in its quiet portrayal of labor and community, a reminder of the human spirit amidst economic change.