Vissersschepen op het strand bij Zandvoort c. 1880

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande created this etching, titled "Vissersschepen op het strand bij Zandvoort," capturing fishing boats on Zandvoort beach. During the late 19th century, the Netherlands experienced significant social and economic changes, with many artists turning to scenes of everyday life and labor. This etching invites us to consider the lives of the fishermen and their families in Zandvoort. What were their experiences of labor, and how did their livelihoods shape their identities and communities? The beach was a site of work, and possibly leisure, but for whom? There is a quiet dignity in this piece, which maintains a traditional representation of labor and landscape. It prompts reflection on the relationship between the community and the sea. We are encouraged to consider the cultural and economic significance of fishing in the Netherlands and the role of art in documenting and celebrating working-class lives.