Afgemeerd zeilschip op een kalme zee 1830 - 1860

Albertus van Beest made this pencil drawing of a moored sailing ship on a calm sea in the mid-19th century. Van Beest was a Dutch-American artist, who moved between the Netherlands and the US, painting marine scenes that captured the spirit of maritime activity. The 19th century was a time of great change and expansion in maritime trade, deeply entwined with colonialism, and its attendant exploitation. The artist presents us with a tranquil scene, yet it's impossible to ignore that the ship is an emblem of a much larger, often oppressive, economic system. It represents not only the exchange of goods but also the movement of people, both free and enslaved. Despite its calm appearance, the drawing invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between the sea, trade, and power. What do you feel when looking at this drawing? Is it peace, nostalgia, or perhaps a more complex mix of emotions, knowing the historical context?