The corvette Najaden in rough seas 1833

Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg painted this canvas, depicting 'The corvette Najaden in rough seas', using oil paint. Although made with traditional art materials, this painting prompts us to consider the wider systems of production and labor at play during the 19th century. Notice how Eckersberg has carefully described the ship. Not only is it a work of great technical skill but the painting also draws attention to the material of the ship itself, such as timber, rope, and sailcloth, each requiring specialized skills and labor to produce and assemble. The ocean, too, becomes a material, mastered by the corvette's navigators and crew. The vessel is seen as a triumph of human ingenuity and skill in its mastery over the ocean. But let's not forget the unseen workforce of labourers who felled the trees, spun the ropes, and wove the sails to make the corvette Najaden. By focusing on the materials and making evident in this painting, we begin to appreciate how art can reveal hidden narratives of labor, skill, and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.