Havenarbeiders op strand bij schip 1613 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle made this etching of dockworkers on a beach near a ship sometime in the mid to late 17th century. It's a fairly straightforward depiction of labor, but it does offer us an insight into the world of maritime commerce during the Dutch Golden Age. The etching shows workers loading and unloading cargo from a ship onto smaller boats and the shore. What's striking is how matter-of-fact it all is. Perelle presents a scene of bustling economic activity but it’s more than just neutral documentation. It shows us the mechanisms of global trade, the literal nuts and bolts and its reliance on human labor. These images remind us that the wealth and prosperity of the era were built on the backs of countless anonymous workers. The etching serves as a reminder that every work of art is embedded in a web of social, economic, and political relationships. Art historians often turn to sources such as maritime records, trade agreements, and social histories to learn more about the world in which art is made.