Stoom- en zeilschip op het water c. 1825 - 1875

This is Petrus Johannes Schotel’s drawing of a steam and sailing ship, created with pen and ink. At first glance, the vessel seems like a cage, an intricate web of lines capturing it. The visual construction feels more like a deconstruction, breaking down the ship's form. Consider the use of lines: they create a network that both defines and dissolves the ship's structure. The contrast between the detailed rigging and the vague depiction of the ship's body creates tension. It is like a semiotic system of signs, questioning our expectations of maritime representation. The blank spaces are just as crucial. They invite us to fill in the gaps, destabilizing the conventional image. It challenges our assumptions about perception, asking us to actively engage with the artwork. The form is more than just a picture; it’s a visual puzzle that requires our participation to complete its meaning.