Beached Whale at Wijk aan Zee 1602

This detailed engraving, "Beached Whale at Wijk aan Zee", created by Jan Saenredam in 1602, captures the awe-inspiring spectacle of a beached whale. The artwork depicts a massive whale carcass on a beach, with a multitude of figures gathered around it. The scene is framed by a decorative archway adorned with angels and biblical verses, adding a symbolic and religious element to the work. Saenredam's masterful use of line and detail in the engraving gives a realistic and immersive experience. The artwork, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a glimpse into the fascination with nature and the wonders of the sea during the Dutch Golden Age.