Diverse studies van boten 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created these diverse studies of boats with graphite on paper. The composition is a collection of sketches, each capturing a different angle and form of sailing boats on water, invoking a sense of maritime activity. Tholen's strategic use of line and shading is of particular interest. The varying densities of graphite create depth and shadow, delineating the sails and hulls with a structural clarity. The lightness of the sketches contrasts with the more densely shaded areas, such as the sails, adding a textural dimension that enlivens the scene. The boats, repeated across the page, emphasize the formal qualities of their design, reducing them to essential shapes and lines. The arrangement, almost like a catalogue, invites a structural reading: each boat is a signifier, contributing to a larger narrative of maritime life. The open composition, eschewing a traditional landscape setting, challenges fixed notions of representation. These sketches capture the essence of the boats’ forms and their interaction with the water, reducing the scene to its most fundamental visual elements.