Zeilboten op zee 1822 - 1863

Curator: Hmm, this one feels quietly dramatic, like the beginning of an old sailor's tale. Editor: That's an interesting reaction to "Zeilboten op zee," or "Sailboats at Sea," an ink drawing dating somewhere between 1822 and 1863, attributed to Jan Dam Steuerwald. You know, the way the artist plays with light and shadow is remarkable. Notice the contrast? The bright sails against the darker, turbulent sky—it almost divides the scene in two. Curator: Oh, I see that division – it makes me wonder what's ahead for that little boat. Like there's sunshine over there, but maybe some serious weather too. You get a sense the artist wasn’t trying to paint a picture of smooth sailing, that’s for sure. Editor: The texture of the waves is really where this drawing earns its merit, especially given it's crafted with ink. There is a sense of palpable depth and texture in that sea. It's a masterful exploration of materials. I’m reminded that in much formalist theory, the meaning of the work lives almost exclusively within the work. Curator: Right! I agree about the depth of the ocean, though. In a way the drawing does echo the sea's uncertainty and our feelings about that: hope and anxiety sort of churned together. Maybe art always does that dance – materials meeting soul! Editor: Indeed. Well, Steuerwald certainly gives us ample opportunity to analyze and project onto it. Its lasting presence here at the Rijksmuseum only reinforces the ongoing formal dialogue. Curator: You’re right about its continuing conversation. Here's to Steuerwald and his "Sailboats," reminding us to look closer.