Seesturm an felsiger Küste, vorne ein gestrandetes Schiff 

This is Adriaen van der Cabel’s "Seesturm an felsiger Küste, vorne ein gestrandetes Schiff" at the Städel Museum. The work is made with pen and brown ink with watercolor on paper. The scene is dominated by a palette of stormy grays, blues, and earth tones. The composition is dynamic, with diagonal lines of the waves and ship creating a sense of movement and chaos. The artist uses washes of color to build the forms, resulting in a textured, almost turbulent surface. Van der Cabel's technique reflects the Baroque interest in drama and emotion, achieved through the play of light and shadow. The shipwreck motif, popular during this period, can be interpreted as a vanitas symbol, reminding viewers of the transience of life and human endeavors. In the language of semiotics, the broken ship functions as a signifier of human vulnerability against the indifferent power of nature. Observe how van der Cabel uses the diagonal structure of the waves to destabilize a sense of harmony, echoing broader philosophical concerns about the precariousness of existence.