Merchant Ships and Smaller Sailing Boats in a Strong Breeze, Dolphins in the Waves 1695 - 1705

Hendrick Rietschoof's "Merchant Ships and Smaller Sailing Boats in a Strong Breeze, Dolphins in the Waves" is a detailed 18th-century etching depicting a fleet of ships navigating a choppy sea. The artist, born in 1687, captures the dynamic movement of the vessels and the force of the wind through the billowing sails and the turbulent waves. The inclusion of dolphins in the scene adds a touch of whimsy and natural beauty to the maritime composition. The drawing, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Rietschoof's mastery of depicting the sea in all its raw power and tranquility.