Gezicht op de Nieuwe Haven in Dordrecht bij avond 1889 - 1903

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this etching, titled "View of the Nieuwe Haven in Dordrecht at Night," capturing a Dutch harbor in quiet reflection. In late 19th-century Netherlands, there was a resurgent interest in the everyday lives of the Dutch people. Artists turned their attention away from grand historical or mythological scenes, finding beauty in local landscapes and the routines of modern life. Dordrecht, one of the oldest cities in Holland, was a bustling port. Rather than focusing on the energy and enterprise of the harbor, the artist chose to depict the stillness of the town at night, perhaps a comment on the artist's perspective on the rise of industrialization. To understand this work better, one might consider the influence of the Hague School, and its rejection of academic art. By studying the social and institutional contexts, we see how this simple harbor view reflects a broader cultural shift in the Netherlands.