Sealers Crushed by Icebergs 1866

William Bradford, a painter known for his Arctic scenes, created this dramatic painting, Sealers Crushed by Icebergs, though the exact date of its making is unknown. Bradford, who was raised in a Quaker household, had a deep respect for nature and a keen interest in maritime life. Here we see the stark reality faced by seal hunters in the unforgiving Arctic. What we easily perceive is the obvious danger, the brutal conditions, and the struggle for survival. Less obvious is the economic engine that fueled such voyages. Sealers were lured by the promise of profit from the sale of seal fur and oil. Their identities were often shaped by the harsh realities of class and labor, as they risked their lives for economic gain. Bradford’s images offered viewers a vicarious experience of the sublime, a romantic sensibility linked to the recognition of nature’s overwhelming power. Through the artist’s rendering, viewers back home could ponder the cost, both human and environmental, of this pursuit.