Figuren in een zeilboot c. 1841 - 1865

This pencil drawing of figures on a sailboat was created by Petrus Johannes Schotel in the 19th century. Schotel lived during a time of significant social change in the Netherlands. Here, we see the intersection of maritime life with human experience. The figures on the sailboat, partially obscured, invite us to imagine their stories, their relationships to the sea, and their place in the social hierarchy of the time. Schotel, who came from a family of marine painters, focused on the emotional experience of those at sea. Whether portraying the everyday lives of sailors or the grander themes of exploration and trade, Schotel’s work captured both the romanticism and the inherent risks of maritime life. The sketch invites us to reflect on our connection to the sea, both as a source of livelihood and a space of personal transformation.