De grote zeeslag bij Duins (plaat 3), 1639 1640 - 1643

Claes Jansz. Visscher created this print of the Great Naval Battle at Duins in 1639. The scene is a mass of ships, smoke, and waves depicted in a dramatic composition which emphasizes dynamic movement. The ships overlap creating a chaotic yet structured tableau. Through a formal lens, the strategic use of linear perspective draws the eye from the foreground's tumultuous waves toward the distant horizon line. Visscher masterfully uses line work to define the forms of the ships, articulating sails, rigging, and hulls with remarkable precision, but it is the depiction of depth through varying line thickness that creates a sense of receding space, with finer lines suggesting greater distance. The print is not just a record of a naval battle but an essay in the visual representation of space and depth. It is an invitation to consider how the artist has used line and composition to create meaning and structure in a seemingly disordered scene. The enduring appeal of the artwork lies not only in its historical context but in its demonstration of artistic skill and the power of graphic representation.