Zeilboten langs een kade bij maanlicht 1847 - 1865

This print, "Zeilboten langs een kade bij maanlicht", was made by Petrus Paulus Schiedges in the nineteenth century, using etching and possibly other printmaking techniques. Look closely, and you'll notice the incredible detail despite the print's monochromatic palette. The artist’s skill is evident in the rendering of textures – from the rough stone of the buildings to the rippling water and the billowing sails of the boats. The network of lines that create these effects speaks to the labor-intensive process of printmaking. Consider the social context here. Prints like this one were made for circulation. They captured a romantic view of Dutch maritime life, but also spoke to the industrialization of the era. The boats themselves, rendered with such care, were instruments of trade and labor. Schiedges has elevated this industrial scene into the realm of art. Paying attention to materials, making, and context enriches our understanding of how artistic value is created. This challenges the conventional separation between art and craft.