Gezicht op de Theems bij Gravesend 1857 - 1898

Félix Hilaire Buhot created this etching of the River Thames at Gravesend in the late 19th century. Here, Buhot captures the bustling maritime activity characteristic of the Thames, then a vital artery of global trade. The image presents a layered view of the river, with working boats in the foreground and larger merchant vessels further out. Factories on the riverbank emit plumes of smoke, signaling the industrial activity that fueled England’s economic power. Buhot was a French artist, and his choice of subject matter speaks to the fascination that England held for artists and intellectuals during this period. What’s interesting is that Buhot’s image isn’t just a neutral record, but also a commentary on the social and environmental costs of industrial progress. By studying sources like trade statistics, local histories, and even period novels, we can better understand the complex social and institutional contexts that shaped Buhot’s vision. Art, in this sense, becomes a window into understanding the relationship between economic progress, artistic representation, and lived experience.