Vergaan van de Joan Melchior Kemper bij de baai van Nagasaki, 1865 1865

"Vergaan van de Joan Melchior Kemper bij de baai van Nagasaki" (1865), a lithograph by Adrien Canelle (1819-1889), depicts the wreckage of the Dutch ship "Joan Melchior Kemper" off the coast of Nagasaki. This dramatic seascape, likely inspired by a real event, showcases Canelle's skill in capturing the turbulent sea and the vulnerability of a vessel caught in a storm. The artist's use of detail and the juxtaposition of the vast ocean with the ship's fragility emphasizes the power of nature. This print exemplifies the popular interest in maritime disasters and the Romantic fascination with the awe-inspiring forces of nature during the 19th century.