Twee matrozen wachten in de haven 1756 - 1817

Editor: So, this etching, "Twee matrozen wachten in de haven," or "Two Sailors Waiting in the Harbour," by Louis Bernard Coclers, from sometime between 1756 and 1817...it's surprisingly intimate. The cross-hatching is delicate, almost whispering. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Whispering, I love that! For me, it's the waiting itself, isn't it? This quiet moment captured. It reminds me of seaside towns I wandered through as a child. Do you notice how the light catches on the water in the distance? That detail suggests a hopefulness to their vigil, what do you think? Editor: I hadn’t considered that aspect! The detail does add a sense of place. The men appear very different; do you read any relationship into that? Curator: Ah, a tale untold. It’s likely Coclers is painting a class divide through attire and stance—but also, through quiet suggestion, it raises the timeless mystery of connection. Waiting is, in itself, a kind of story waiting to be told, you know? The negative space is equally telling! What future do you see for them, looking at them here? Editor: The waiting makes me a bit restless; I think they may stay like that for a very long time... Curator: And sometimes, isn’t that the magic of art? A window, yes, but also a mirror, isn't it? Thank you.