Zeilschip met zwaarden op het water 1866 - 1910

This etching, ‘Zeilschip met zwaarden op het water’—or ‘Sailing ship with swords on the water’—is by the Belgian artist Frans Hens. The image is made using the etching process, where the artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then draws an image into the wax with a sharp needle. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away. The plate is then inked and printed, resulting in an image with a distinctive, finely detailed quality. The matrix of etched lines gives the print a tactile, almost sculptural presence. The image evokes the socio-economic context of maritime activity and transportation. The boat is the key here, suggesting a narrative of labor and travel, the realities of trade and the personal journeys of people connected to the sea. Looking closely at the materials and processes employed, we can appreciate how Hens, like many artists, took cues from the everyday world around him. By considering these wider contexts, we can better understand and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.