Battle of Medway c. 1668

Willem Schellinks painted this scene of the Battle of Medway with oil on canvas. The eye is drawn to the stark contrast between the serene sky and the chaotic naval battle. The puffs of smoke punctuate the scene with a dramatic rhythm. Schellinks masterfully uses the structure of aerial perspective, with muted tones in the distance, to create a sense of depth, drawing us into the heart of the conflict. The arrangement of the ships and the billowing smoke are composed to convey the scale and intensity of the battle. Interestingly, there's a tension between the traditional landscape genre and the depiction of warfare. The semiotic function of the smoke operates as a signifier, not just of battle, but also of the disruption of the natural order. This disrupts our expectations and forces us to consider the impact of human conflict. The formal qualities of the painting serve to underscore the philosophical implications of war itself.