En shetlandsk fiskerbåd i stormfuldt vejr nord for Orkneyøerne 1842

Anton Melbye made this oil on canvas painting of a Shetland fishing boat in rough weather, in the mid-19th century. Consider the social and economic backdrop of maritime painting in 19th-century Denmark. The country's wealth and international connections were based on shipping and trade. Marine painting had emerged as a distinct genre in the 17th century, reaching great heights in the Netherlands. It was collected widely, demonstrating the owner’s wealth, taste, and connection to the seas. Later, it was displayed in national collections such as this one, to promote an idea of national identity and shared maritime endeavour. This painting is not just a neutral record. It shows the sea as a sublime, overwhelming force that dwarfs human endeavor. The scene may invite us to reflect on how the sea shaped Denmark's sense of itself. What stories and mythologies about the sea did it choose to tell? How did its maritime museums select and display the evidence? These are just some of the questions that art historians try to address.