Linieschip en andere schepen op zee 1834

Ferdinand Victor Perrot created this image of ships at sea at an unknown date using lithography. What stories do these ships tell of 19th-century culture? The imposing sailing ships and steamships speak to the rise of industry, technology, and global empires. Notice how these forms co-exist here; both sail and steam power were critical to maritime activities in the 1800s. Such vessels transformed international relations, trade, and warfare. The image may reflect an embrace of progress, but also the uneasy sense of rapid social change. To understand this print, scholars consult maritime records, economic histories, and collections of popular imagery. The meaning of art is always contingent on these wider contexts.