Zeilende Botters 1870 - 1931

"Zeilende Botters" (Sailing Botters), a pencil drawing by Willem Bastiaan Tholen, captures a tranquil seascape. The piece showcases Tholen's signature style of depicting the simple beauty of Dutch coastal life, specifically the traditional flat-bottomed sailing vessels known as "botters". The minimalist composition, with its focus on the boats and the serene, gray-toned sky, creates a sense of calm and tranquility. Currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, this artwork reflects Tholen's ability to portray the essence of a moment in nature, capturing the quiet rhythm of the sea and the boats that navigate it.