Schipbreuk op een ruige zee 1830 - 1860

"Schipbreuk op een ruige zee" (Shipwreck on a Rough Sea), a graphite drawing by Albertus van Beest (1820-1860), depicts a dramatic scene of a ship in distress on a stormy sea. The artwork, created between 1830 and 1860, captures the chaos and vulnerability of maritime life with its detailed portrayal of the turbulent waves, the struggling ship, and the lone seagulls in the distance. This piece exemplifies van Beest’s artistic interest in the power of nature and the fragility of human existence. The drawing, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the artist’s skill in conveying dramatic realism through subtle shades of gray.