Man in een roeiboot bij ondergaande zon 1865 - 1910

Louis Adolphe Jacobs made this print of a man in a rowboat at sunset with etching. We see not only the romantic scene of a solitary rower enjoying the sunset, but also a strange void where part of the image seems to be missing. This small image raises big questions. Was this print intended to be sold as a romantic memento of the Dutch landscape? Did Jacobs make it to be exhibited in one of the many art societies that flourished in the Netherlands at the time? If so, why does it look unfinished? The art market in the late 19th century Netherlands was highly structured, with artists reliant on sales, commissions, and institutional support. The formal qualities of this print invite us to ask about Jacob's position within that system. Examining exhibition records, collectors' archives, and artist's correspondence could reveal much about his intentions and the cultural context in which he worked. Only through such research can we fully appreciate the social life of this intriguing image.