Zeilschip before 1887

This is a black and white print of Zeilschip, or sailing ship, by A.J. West. It is an evocative image of a sailing ship at sea, captured with a sensitive attention to light and shadow. The image gains considerable impact from the printing process, likely a photogravure, which allowed for a rich tonal range. This method, which involves etching a photographic image onto a metal plate and then printing it, was favored for its ability to reproduce the fine details and subtle gradations of a photograph. You might say it elevates photography to the level of craft. The choice of this process is significant. At the time, it represented a blend of technology and artistry, offering a way to disseminate images widely while retaining a sense of handcrafted quality. It speaks to a broader cultural moment in which artists sought to reconcile the rise of industrial production with traditional artistic values. This print, therefore, is not just an image of a ship, but also a testament to the evolving relationship between art, technology, and labor.