The Fleet Leaving the Port of Vlissingen, 1804 1804 - 1805

Engel Hoogerheyden made this pen and brush drawing in 1804, using black ink on paper. The monochrome palette gives the scene a somber, serious tone, which is only heightened by the mass of ships looming on the horizon. Look closely, and you'll notice the incredible detail that Hoogerheyden was able to achieve with such limited means. The lines are crisp, and the subtle gradations of tone create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The labor and materials needed to construct and maintain ships are substantial and costly. The commercial and strategic interests of the Dutch Republic are reflected in this drawing. It demonstrates a long history of Dutch maritime power and commercial enterprise. At the time, the sea represented both a source of opportunity and a site of conflict. Considering the materials, making, and context helps us fully understand what an artwork such as this embodies, and challenges any traditional distinction between art and craft.