Twee botters 1831

This is Pieter le Comte's drawing, "Twee botters," made sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It shows two Dutch flat-bottomed boats, called "botters," sailing on what must be the Zuiderzee. The drawing's composition and clarity reflect the Dutch tradition of marine painting, which served as a vital visual record of their maritime culture. But, it also evokes a sense of national identity, where the sea was both a source of livelihood and a stage for historical events. What's telling is the way the artwork doesn’t represent any particular event or narrative, but instead focuses on the depiction of an ordinary scene. In the 19th century, the Dutch art world was trying to redefine itself after a long period of foreign domination. The representation of humble scenes of local life was a means of asserting cultural independence. To fully appreciate the work, we would want to know more about the artist and the institutions through which he learned his craft.