Dutch Ships near the Coast

Niederländische Malerei 1645–1660, begin jaren 1650

Created with fine black lines of paint and ink against a white background on this horizontal wood panel, this seascape showing several large ships and dozens of rowboats looks like a black and white print at first glance. The horizon line where the choppy water meets the nearly cloudless sky comes about a quarter of the way up the composition. The ship closest to us is angled into the distance to the right of center, and its masts reach three-quarters of the way up the panel. Another large ship has nearly pulled alongside it to our right, and a third ship appears near the left edge. Canons poke out of open flaps along the sides of the ships, and most of the sails are furled. More than a dozen smaller masted ships and rowboats are spaced around and behind these larger vessels, extending into the deep distance. Flags and pennants with three horizontal stripes hang from many of the ships. Closest to us, dark dolphin fins cut through rippling waves, and a few rounded jugs float in the water. People stand along a shoreline in the distance to our right, where two horse-drawn carriages wade between the beach and rowboats. The artist’s name is written on a wooden panel floating in the water near the lower right corner, “W.V. Velde.”
Kunstenaar
Niederländische Malerei 1645–1660
Datering
begin jaren 1650
Soort
Schilderij
Techniek
oil and ink on panel
Afmetingen
59,4 × 83,5 cm
Collectie
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licentie
Publiek domein, CC0

Beeldbeschrijving

Created with fine black lines of paint and ink against a white background on this horizontal wood panel, this seascape showing several large ships and dozens of rowboats looks like a black and white print at first glance. The horizon line where the choppy water meets the nearly cloudless sky comes about a quarter of the way up the composition. The ship closest to us is angled into the distance to the right of center, and its masts reach three-quarters of the way up the panel. Another large ship has nearly pulled alongside it to our right, and a third ship appears near the left edge. Canons poke out of open flaps along the sides of the ships, and most of the sails are furled. More than a dozen smaller masted ships and rowboats are spaced around and behind these larger vessels, extending into the deep distance. Flags and pennants with three horizontal stripes hang from many of the ships. Closest to us, dark dolphin fins cut through rippling waves, and a few rounded jugs float in the water. People stand along a shoreline in the distance to our right, where two horse-drawn carriages wade between the beach and rowboats. The artist’s name is written on a wooden panel floating in the water near the lower right corner, “W.V. Velde.”

Niederländische Malerei 1645–1660