Marine 1698

This is Sieuwert van der Meulen's "Marine," made around the turn of the 18th century and rendered with pen in brown ink, brush in gray ink, and watercolor. The composition is structured by a serene body of water bisected by a distant horizon, creating a tranquil, if somewhat bleak, atmosphere. The artist uses a subdued palette to define the scene. Note the contrasting treatment of form: the figures and land masses are delineated with defined strokes, while the ships and sky dissolve into soft, atmospheric washes. This contrast between precision and diffusion destabilizes the distinction between the real and the ideal. Van der Meulen engages with a semiotic interplay of solid and ephemeral forms, reflecting the philosophical interest of the period in how art can represent both tangible reality and the elusive nature of perception. The work invites contemplation on how we construct meaning through the visual interplay of clarity and ambiguity.