Stoomboot 1888 - 1927

This drawing of a steamboat was made by Anton Dirckx, using graphite on paper. The material is simple, the kind available to anyone, but it's the artist's mark-making that brings it to life. Notice how the sketchy lines capture the dynamic energy of the scene. Dirckx doesn't give us every detail, but rather suggests the boat's form and movement through a flurry of marks. The steamship itself is significant. As a mode of transportation, it symbolizes progress, industry, and connection. It also speaks to the labor involved in building, maintaining, and operating these vessels. Dirckx’s quick, almost frantic strokes may reflect the fast pace of industrial life at the time. The drawing isn't just a picture of a steamboat, it’s a record of the artist's experience, rendered with a humble material but a powerful sense of immediacy. It blurs the line between fine art and everyday observation.