Schepen op een kalme zee 1745 - 1794

"Schepen op een kalme zee" (Ships on a Calm Sea) is an etching by Richard Houston from 1745–1794. The print, currently in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, depicts a fleet of ships at anchor in a calm sea, with one ship firing a cannon, while others are at anchor. This print was part of a series of engravings, "A Calm", created by Houston, all depicting ships in various states of calm at sea. The image evokes the serenity and beauty of a calm sea, while also suggesting the potential for action and movement. The ships themselves appear to be English warships, a fact that was significant in the 18th century, when the Royal Navy was one of the most powerful in the world.