Timmerwerk aan de sloep, 1597 1615 - 1617

This black and white engraving, "Timmerwerk aan de sloep," made in 1597 by an anonymous artist, portrays shipbuilding with detailed lines and textures, creating a vivid, industrious scene. The composition is structured around the central boat, where the repetition of angular forms in the figures, tools, and landscape elements generate a dynamic rhythm. Notice how the lines define not only the shapes but also the tonal variations, suggesting depth and volume in the monochromatic palette. This interplay of light and shadow gives a tactile quality to the depicted materials, from the rough-hewn planks to the workers' clothing. This method reflects a broader artistic interest in portraying human activity and craft. The image destabilizes the heroic, opting instead for a focus on collective labor and the practical construction of objects. Consider the structured arrangement of forms—the artist invites us to contemplate not only the aesthetics of production but also the underlying structures that organize human endeavors.