Gezicht op de Schelde bij avond 1889 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this etching, "View of the Scheldt at Evening," capturing a scene from the Netherlands. During the late 19th century, there was a growing interest in landscapes that reflected the changing social and economic conditions of the Netherlands, a country deeply intertwined with its waterways. This piece offers a glimpse into the relationship between industrial progress and the natural world. The Scheldt River, a crucial artery for trade and transport, is shown with ships on the horizon, their presence alluding to the Netherlands's maritime power and its reliance on international commerce. Storm van 's-Gravesande, with his artistic choices, invites us to consider the complex social and economic forces shaping the Dutch landscape and society, an area that requires the consideration of shipping records, trade agreements, and the diaries of those whose lives were spent on the water.