Zeeslag, met links een driemaster 1797 - 1838

Johannes Christiaan Schotel made this drawing of a naval battle with pen in grey ink. Schotel was a Dutch marine painter preoccupied by the sea and ships. The historical context helps us understand the social position of maritime painting during the 19th century in the Netherlands. Naval power and maritime trade defined the country’s economy, its global reach, and its national identity. As such, marine painting was not merely decorative, but a powerful visual means of constructing and celebrating Dutch power. Looking at other maritime paintings and drawings from this period, and reading accounts of naval battles and maritime trade, we can learn more about the way Schotel’s drawing participates in these visual and historical discourses. We can see how images of naval battles reinforced social hierarchies. The work may seem like a straightforward depiction of ships at war, but further investigation reveals the politics of imagery.