Schip in een storm met touwen vastgehouden door mannen op de kust 1838 - 1912

Isaac Weissenbruch made this print of a ship in a storm, held by ropes, by men on the coast. It’s a modest work, just a few inches across, made with the readily available technology of etching. The material properties of the metal plate used for the etching allowed for the creation of fine, detailed lines. This captures the chaos of the storm and the tension in the ropes held by the figures on the shore. The printmaking process allowed for mass production, making it accessible to a wide audience. In its time, this would have been considered an everyday image rather than fine art. It was intended for children, and included a moralizing verse, a common feature of such prints. It speaks to the risks of seafaring, a crucial part of the Dutch economy. The print thus brings issues of labor and class into view. By considering the materials, production, and social context of this print, we see it as more than just a simple illustration. It becomes a window into the lives and values of the people who made and consumed it.