Enkele schepen en sloepen met manschappen voor de kust bij Portsmouth 1621 - 1707

Willem van de Velde the Elder made this drawing of ships and sloops off the coast of Portsmouth with pen in grey-brown ink on paper. Van de Velde was a specialist in maritime subjects. His artistry lies not so much in grand gestures, but in careful observation. Here, you can see how he used a fine-tipped pen, almost like an etching needle, to capture the intricate rigging of the ships. These were the engines of global trade and naval power in the 17th century. There's a wonderful tension in this drawing between the precision of his linework and the atmospheric effects he achieves, especially the smoke rising in the distance. He was, in effect, applying the skills of a draughtsman to capturing the effects of wind and light on the water. By bringing this sensibility to bear on the ships, Van de Velde invites us to consider them not just as instruments of commerce or warfare, but as objects worthy of aesthetic contemplation.