Een zeeslag, mogelijk bij Lowestoft op 13 juni 1665 (rechterblad) 1665

This drawing, possibly depicting the sea battle near Lowestoft on June 13, 1665, was created by Jan Abrahamsz. Beerstraten. He used pen in gray and brush in gray on laid paper. The composition is dominated by a dense array of ships, their masts and sails creating a complex network of vertical and diagonal lines against a muted, almost monochromatic background. The texture is rendered through meticulous pen work, particularly in the detailed depiction of the ships' structures and the choppy sea. Beerstraten’s technique reflects the influence of marine painting, yet there is a structural complexity that extends beyond mere representation. The receding perspective is not only a visual technique but also suggests a deeper semiotic interplay between foreground and background, presence and absence. The use of gray tones flattens the image and reduces depth. In essence, the drawing functions as a study in organized chaos. The lines and shapes cohere into a scene of naval conflict, yet the drawing retains an underlying tension between order and disorder.