Gezicht op het havenhoofd van Vlaardingen 1797

Gerrit Groenewegen created this print depicting the harbor of Vlaardingen using etching, a printmaking technique, at an unknown date. The process begins with a metal plate, usually copper or zinc. The artist covers it with a waxy, acid-resistant coating, then draws the image with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, paper is pressed onto the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The etched lines in this print capture the maritime activity with remarkable detail, from the textures of the water to the rigging of the ships. The technique allows for fine lines and intricate details, crucial for depicting the complex network of trade and labor that defined Vlaardingen's port. In its own way, the print is as much a product of labor as the ships it depicts. Looking at this print, we can see how closely tied the history of art is to that of craft and industry.