Twee zeilschepen en een roeiboot op open water c. 1828 - 1897

This graphite sketch, "Two Sailing Ships and a Rowing Boat on Open Water," was made by Adrianus Eversen sometime in the 19th century. It’s a fleeting impression, barely captured on the page. The material qualities of graphite are essential here. Its relative softness allowed Eversen to quickly lay down these searching lines. You can almost see the artist’s hand moving across the paper, defining the rigging of the sailing ships and the gentle curve of the water. Although this sketch isn’t a finished product, it's still charged with cultural significance. During the 19th century, maritime scenes were popular subjects, celebrating trade, exploration, and naval power. Graphite sketches such as this offered a quick, reproducible way to capture and disseminate these themes. Next time you look at a drawing, remember the active hand that created it and consider the wider world that informs even the simplest sketch.