Entrance To The Harbor Of Hellevoetsluis 1890

Editor: Andreas Achenbach’s *Entrance To The Harbor Of Hellevoetsluis*, painted in 1890, is a pretty dramatic seascape, isn’t it? The sky looks menacing, and the little boat in the foreground seems so vulnerable amidst those towering waves. What jumps out at you when you look at this painting? Curator: It’s that churn, isn’t it? The North Sea spitting and clawing. Achenbach really makes you *feel* the precariousness of existence in a port town, relying on the temperamental ocean. It reminds me of staring out at the Atlantic from my grandfather’s house, that endless, shimmering possibility, always laced with a bit of primordial fear. See how he contrasts the detail in the boats with the blurred lines of the fortress in the background? Editor: Yes, it almost looks like the fortress is fading away in the mist. So, is he trying to say something about the power of nature versus the achievements of man? Curator: Possibly! Or maybe it is as simple as where focus leads the eye. Achenbach wasn't shy about making a political point. Ask yourself what endures here, what’s fleeting? The port town may crumble, empires might fade, but the sea... well, she just keeps on being the sea, doesn't she? Though he’s playing with conventions, look how he’s brought your eye into that little rowboat – we're practically *in* that squall. Is the artist suggesting humanity is a fly on the wall? Or might it be that the artist's brush is what provides some solid permanence? Editor: It's making me rethink what I considered merely dramatic; there's so much more going on than just the storm. Curator: Exactly! It’s more than just waves and sailboats, it's about endurance. It also tells of the artistic eye trying to see into a memory of history. We're all just trying to keep afloat.