De tocht van de Engelse koning Karel II over de Thames naar Sheerness en Chatham op 27 Augustus 1681 Possibly 1681 - 1688

Willem van de Velde I made this drawing of King Charles II's voyage on the Thames in 1681, using pen in grey ink on paper. Though seemingly simple, this artwork speaks volumes about the labor and politics of maritime power. Van de Velde was a specialist in marine painting, and his deep understanding of shipbuilding shines through. The drawing captures the material reality of these vessels: the weight of the wood, the texture of the sails, the sheer number of hands required to build, maintain, and sail them. Look closely and you'll see the complex rigging, the sturdy hulls. All of this reflects a vast network of labor, from the felling of trees to the weaving of ropes, all supporting England’s naval dominance. This drawing elevates the traditionally under-appreciated labor of shipbuilding to a subject worthy of artistic attention. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images can be powerful records of complex social and economic realities.