Hans Blank, trained as a sculptor at the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, lived and worked almost all of his life in Den Oever on the former island of Wieringen. He also had a studio on the south coast of Ireland. Wind, water, sea and his connection with ships are therefore an important source of inspiration for his work. The artist himself owned various ships over the years, such as a tjalk, a barge, and a trawler. His sculptures, which vary in size from small to monumental, have a robust and powerful appearance.