Onderhoud aan een schip in de haven 1866 - 1910

This print, "Onderhoud aan een schip in de haven," was made by Frans Hens. It presents a scene dominated by a large ship occupying the majority of the picture plane, which immediately evokes a sense of scale and maritime industry. Hens masterfully utilizes the etching technique to create depth and texture. Notice how the network of fine lines renders the detailed rigging of the ship, contrasting with the darker, more densely etched areas that define the hull and dockside structures. This interplay of light and shadow not only gives form to the scene but also captures the atmosphere of a bustling harbor. The composition draws our eye to the human activity occurring near the center, where figures are engaged in maintenance, thereby emphasizing the relationship between human labor and industrial machinery. Through his precise and deliberate lines, Hens offers us not just a depiction of a ship, but an insight into the organized chaos of dockside life, where each element plays its part in the larger narrative of maritime trade.