Oostelijk dok, te Amsterdam 1867 - 1890

Philip Zilcken created this etching titled 'Oostelijk dok, te Amsterdam' using etching in the late 19th, early 20th century. Zilcken was a Dutch artist, who lived through a time of significant transformation in Europe's social, political, and economic structures. Here we see the port of Amsterdam, filled with ships that were essential to the burgeoning trade networks of the time. A romantic portrayal of industry and commerce, it invites us to consider the labor, exploitation, and environmental impact linked to maritime trade. As an artist, Zilcken stood at an interesting intersection of privilege and observation, documenting a world that relied on complex systems of labor. The etching serves as a lens through which we can reflect on the relationship between progress, power, and the human cost often hidden beneath the surface of such scenes.