Schipbreuk op een rotskust c. 1825 - 1875

Petrus Johannes Schotel created this drawing of a shipwreck on a rocky coast, employing ink and watercolor to capture the drama of the scene. Schotel was part of a family of maritime painters, and you can see here how he exploits the fluidity of his chosen media, ink wash in particular, to evoke the power of water. The ship itself is rendered with considerable detail, every line of the rigging articulated. Meanwhile, the rocks and roiling sea are depicted with more gestural strokes. This contrast is more than just descriptive. It also speaks to the cultural and economic importance of maritime trade. The Dutch Republic was a seafaring empire in Schotel’s time, but its power was always at the mercy of the elements. Consider how the artist's skilled manipulation of materials gives form to those elements. The tonal variations of the ink wash suggest the weight and force of the water, as well as the ominous atmosphere of the scene. We are reminded that the qualities of the artwork are inseparable from its making, and that these processes always carry a social and historical charge.