Men with Cannons, Kegs of Powder and an Anchor n.d.

This pen and ink drawing by Willem van de Velde I, a leading Dutch maritime artist of the 17th century, depicts a group of men preparing cannons and gunpowder. The work is likely a preparatory study for a larger composition, characterized by the artist’s meticulous detail and clear lines. The artist’s focus on the implements of war and the scene’s realistic depiction speaks to the importance of naval warfare in the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Netherlands established its maritime dominance. This drawing, now housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, offers a glimpse into the artist's process and the world of 17th-century Dutch maritime life.