Zeilschepen op stil water bij de kust 1600 - 1650

Abraham de Verwer made this drawing of sailing ships on calm waters with pen and brown ink, likely in the first half of the 17th century. The choice of drawing, rather than painting, is significant. It speaks to the burgeoning culture of maritime trade in the Netherlands at this time. De Verwer likely made this drawing in preparation for a painting, or perhaps as an independent work for sale, as there was a growing market for such images. The pen-and-ink medium lends itself to capturing the details of the ships, from the rigging to the planks of wood used in their construction. It invites us to consider all the work involved in shipbuilding. Note the labor that made Dutch maritime trade possible, from the felling of trees to the weaving of rope. This was no small matter. The Dutch Golden Age was founded on global commerce, and it all started with a ship. Drawings like these remind us that artistic depictions are intertwined with social and economic realities. It encourages us to look beyond the surface to appreciate the skill, labor, and context that created these maritime wonders.