Søslag. 6 skibe 1746 - 1828

Editor: This delicate pencil drawing, "Søslag. 6 skibe," which translates to "Naval battle. 6 ships," is attributed to C.A. Lorentzen, made sometime between 1746 and 1828. I find it very calming given its faintness and almost unfinished quality, despite depicting a naval battle. What do you see in this piece, especially regarding its process and materials? Curator: The immediacy and evident hand of the artist, working in pencil, invites a materialist reading. Consider the labor involved in even a preliminary sketch like this. What was the function of drawing within 18th-century naval culture? Was it a tool for documentation, planning, or personal expression? It prompts us to think about how maritime power was materially constructed, even on paper. Look closely – what does the artist emphasize, and what do they leave out? Editor: Well, the ships are definitely present, but the background is barely there, and you don't get any sense of the chaos usually associated with a naval battle. It feels very clinical, almost like a blueprint. Curator: Exactly! This directs our attention to the ships themselves – the technology, the manpower needed to build and sail them. A materialist approach encourages us to move beyond aesthetic judgment and examine the drawing as a record of power, resources, and human effort invested in these objects. We might even research the type of wood used in these ships, or the process of sail-making. Editor: That’s fascinating; it shifts the focus from the artistic skill to the tangible elements behind it all. I’d never considered looking at a drawing this way before! Curator: It’s about uncovering the often-hidden systems and relationships that make art, and the world it depicts, possible. Editor: I am definitely going to investigate more about the labor and construction involved in naval activities from that era, thank you.