Afgemeerde zeilschepen c. 1841 - 1865

Petrus Johannes Schotel made this pencil drawing of moored sailing ships in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-19th century. The Dutch Republic had been a world leader in maritime trade in the 17th century, so Schotel’s choice of subject connects to a long history of naval power and mercantile exchange. However, by the 19th century, the Netherlands was no longer a major player on the world stage. We might see Schotel's image as a work of nostalgia, looking back to a time when the country was a dominant force. This simple sketch emphasizes the quiet stillness of the ships at harbor, rather than the drama of the open sea. To understand the image fully, we can research the histories of Dutch maritime trade and the country’s naval prowess, along with the biographies of the artists who made marine subjects their own. In doing so, we can appreciate how art is always a product of its time, reflecting both national pride and anxieties about the changing world order.