Drie zeegezichten c. 1825 - 1875

Petrus Johannes Schotel created this drawing, "Drie zeegezichten," using pen and brush in gray ink. The composition is divided into distinct panels, each capturing a different marine scene, yet unified by a palette of somber grays. The overall effect is moody and atmospheric, evoking a sense of maritime drama and the sublime power of nature. Schotel's strategic use of line and tone builds depth and emotion. In the upper panels, the rough, agitated strokes delineate stormy seas and distressed vessels. This contrasts with the sketchier, unfinished quality of the lower panel, where fainter lines suggest ships in the distance, offering a sense of receding space. The dark, concentrated inks in the upper registers create a visual weight that presses down on the lighter, sparser sketches below. The arrangement and contrast of the panels destabilizes a singular, fixed interpretation. Schotel invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of the sea – from immediate peril to the serene, if still untamed, horizon. The drawing challenges the romanticized vision of maritime painting by exposing the raw, unvarnished elements of the scene.