Warships and Other Boats in Harbor 1780 - 1790

Editor: This is "Warships and Other Boats in Harbor," created between 1780 and 1790 by Willem van de Velde II, using ink, watercolor, graphite, gouache, chalk and other media on paper. I’m struck by how peaceful it feels, even though it depicts warships. How did he manage to convey that? Curator: You know, it’s funny you say that. It’s the light, isn't it? And perhaps it's the stillness of the water that holds up perfect reflections. Willem van de Velde the Younger—imagine that name in your signature— specialized in these marine scenes. But these weren't just documentary. They are like a watery stage set where ships take on the qualities of characters in a play. Does it bring up a sense of quiet anticipation for you, maybe even an emotional undertow, because it sure does for me. What's lurking in the mists? Editor: I think the precision contributes, too. It feels very observed and carefully rendered, but is it based on reality? Curator: Ah, now you're asking the golden question. He was actually present at sea battles, making sketches as they unfolded, though this seems more a compilation of various observations and maybe imagined moments. There’s something theatrical in the arrangement, too. Like he is showing off the Dutch naval power with dramatic flair. Van de Velde had the skill to capture fleeting impressions while constructing something grander. What do you make of his choice to use so many drawing media here? Editor: It allows for incredibly subtle gradations of tone, like he’s capturing the light in so many layers. It’s a masterclass. I guess, for me, the peace I saw initially becomes something more complex, a sort of calm before a storm…literally or metaphorically. Curator: Precisely! These harbour scenes can hold both history and poetry.