Anvers, marine 1850

Félix Ziem painted this marine view of Anvers, or Antwerp, with oils on wood. The visible grain and texture of the wood support create a sense of rawness, hinting at the maritime environment’s harshness. Ziem built up layers of paint with visible brushstrokes to capture the reflections on the water, and the atmospheric conditions of a harbor city. The artist engaged with a tradition of maritime painting while hinting at the industrial labor that underlies it. Antwerp was, and still is, a major port, so this is also a portrait of global trade. The choice of wood as a support, instead of the more typical canvas, gives the painting an immediate connection to the shipping industry. This challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, and emphasizes the importance of materials, making, and context in understanding the full meaning of the artwork.