Schepen op de Maas 1851 - 1924

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching called 'Ships on the Maas'. It shows the river Maas, probably around Rotterdam, full of ships; some are sailing ships, others steamships. What interests me about this piece is how it illustrates the Netherlands’ complex relationship to the sea. On the one hand, it’s a source of livelihood and trade, visualized through the hustle and bustle of ships. On the other hand, the sea is a reminder of colonial ambitions, with ships carrying both goods and the weight of a global empire. The artist, who traveled extensively, was part of a society grappling with industrialization and its impact on national identity. The etching doesn’t offer a clear critique or celebration, but it invites us to contemplate the historical layers embedded in this seascape. It reminds us that landscapes are not neutral; they are filled with the stories of those who navigated them, both literally and figuratively.