Schepen op de Theems bij Londen 1868 - 1903

Siebe Johannes ten Cate made this drawing of ships on the Thames near London, using pen and ink. During his lifetime, ten Cate moved in and out of the Netherlands, living in Paris and London. His travels allowed him to be influenced by differing artistic movements. This drawing combines the detailed observation of the Hague School, with the atmospheric effects favored by the Impressionists. The image depicts a bustling scene on the river. Barges and steamboats share the waterway with smaller rowing boats. The architecture of London looms in the background. Ten Cate does not romanticize London. His is a portrait of a working city, defined by labor. At the time this drawing was made, London was a world center for trade. As such, the Thames was the lifeblood of the city, a place where opportunity and exploitation coexisted. In focusing on this, ten Cate is engaging with the complex realities of urban life and industrial progress.