Ships in a Breeze Off the Dutch Coast 1635 - 1676

Editor: So here we have Hendrick Jacobsz. Dubbels’ "Ships in a Breeze Off the Dutch Coast," likely painted sometime between 1635 and 1676, created with oil paints. There's something about the sky that makes the water seem restless; I am struck by the grittiness of it all. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: I am immediately drawn to the materiality of the painting itself. Consider the pigments Dubbels used – where did they come from? Who ground them, and under what conditions? This painting isn't just about ships; it's about the global trade networks that supplied the materials used to create it. Editor: So you're thinking about the socioeconomic elements involved, even just in the materials themselves? Curator: Exactly! Think of the linseed oil – the pressing of the flax, the labour involved. And look at the canvas. This implies the existence of weavers, traders, and a whole system of manufacturing and exchange. What does this tell us about the consumption of art, the demand, the rise of a wealthy merchant class in the Netherlands, enabling the creation of these kinds of artworks? Editor: I see what you mean! I hadn’t considered how much went into creating the object itself. This makes me consider how that relates to its content - that the boats too would rely on similar processes. Curator: Precisely! The ship itself speaks to similar ideas, doesn't it? Its timber was logged, hewn, and shaped, with further resources used for sailcloth. It embodies global ambition. How might our view of this painting shift, when thinking of what underpinned the image’s creation? Editor: Wow, this has really changed my perspective. Thanks for pointing out the layers of labor and materials embedded within this seascape. Curator: My pleasure! Hopefully, this approach brings fresh insights.