A Frigate at Anchor, Saluting a Nearby Yacht 1620 - 1693

Willem van de Velde I created this pen and brown ink and gray wash drawing titled, *A Frigate at Anchor, Saluting a Nearby Yacht*. Van de Velde, a Dutch marine painter, was working during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented maritime power and global trade. This drawing invites us to consider the relationships between power, trade, and the sea. The prominent frigate, with its billowing smoke, symbolizes Dutch naval dominance, a force inextricably linked to the nation’s economic prosperity. The yacht, likely representing wealth and leisure, is dwarfed by the warship, subtly highlighting the social hierarchies of the time. The artist's meticulous rendering of each vessel evokes a sense of awe, but we might also ask: who were the people who built, sailed, and maintained these ships? Whose labor and lives were the foundations of this era? And what stories remain untold in this image of maritime power? While the drawing celebrates Dutch maritime prowess, it also serves as a poignant reminder of the complex human stories that underpin such displays of national pride.