Meeresbucht mit einem Leuchtturm und einer Befestigung im Hintergrund c. 1783 - 1787

Nicolas Marie Ozanne created this ink drawing, “Meeresbucht mit einem Leuchtturm und einer Befestigung im Hintergrund,” at an unknown date. The sepia wash gives the scene a warm, unified tonality, inviting a sense of nostalgia. The composition is structured by receding planes: figures in the foreground, the water with boats, and architectural elements that establish a structured depth. Note how the lighthouse is strategically placed, its verticality anchoring the scene while also dividing the composition into distinct zones. The precise linework and attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the fortifications and the ships, speak to Ozanne's training as a marine engineer. This drawing isn't merely a picturesque scene; it’s a carefully constructed visual statement. Ozanne uses the formal qualities of line and composition to explore themes of maritime power and the tension between nature and human construction. The cultural codes embedded within its representation of maritime infrastructure ask us to consider how art can operate as both aesthetic object and a historical document, inviting continuous examination.