Brede rivier met zeilschepen en een roeibootje 1668 - 1677

Pieter Coopse rendered this drawing of a broad river with sailboats and rowboats with pen in gray and brown ink on paper, sometime between 1668 and 1677. The pen and ink technique yields fine, precise lines, allowing Coopse to capture the details of the ships, figures, and the subtle reflections on the water. The limited tonal range, achieved through hatching and layering of strokes, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. This type of drawing was often made as a study or preparatory sketch, a means of documenting the world around the artist. It may also have been produced for sale to patrons interested in images of maritime life. The amount of labor involved reflects a growing market for such works and the increasing professionalization of art. The drawing offers insight into the economy and labor of the time, particularly in the fishing trade. It blurs the boundary between documentation, artistic expression, and economic activity.