Schipbreukelingen aan een rotsachtige kust 1766

Joseph de Longueil's 1766 etching, "Schipbreukelingen aan een rotsachtige kust," depicts a dramatic shipwreck scene. The artwork shows a distressed ship crashing against a rocky shore with figures scrambling for safety amidst churning waves and a dramatic sky. The print, likely inspired by a real event, highlights the dangers of seafaring, a theme explored in many works of art from this period. Longueil skillfully captures the chaotic energy of the scene, creating a sense of both fear and resilience in the face of adversity. This piece reflects a 18th-century interest in maritime disasters, and its detailed depiction offers a glimpse into the visual language and anxieties surrounding this theme at the time.