Vissersboten in een haven 1880 - 1884

This print of fishing boats in a harbor was made by Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande. It’s an etching, meaning the artist used acid to eat away at a metal plate, creating an image that could then be inked and printed. The magic of this image resides in the artist’s control of the etching process. Look closely, and you’ll see the incredible range of tones achieved through careful timing, and different concentrations of acid, from the dark, solid forms of the boats themselves, to the delicate shading in the sky. The controlled corrosion gives texture to the surface of the print, a subtle grittiness that really suits the nautical subject. It’s easy to see the appeal of the etching technique for maritime subjects like this; the etcher has something in common with a shipwright – both are masters of controlled aggression. The dark lines and their tonal depth allows for a contrast of the stillness of the water, with the implied danger of life at sea. With this in mind, the image encourages us to appreciate both the final artwork, and the labor that went into its production.