Dutch and English Fleets n.d.

Willem van de Velde II made this drawing of Dutch and English Fleets with pen and brown ink. The composition is dominated by the ordered chaos of ships, a dense collection of masts and sails that create a complex lattice of vertical and diagonal lines. There is a subtle gradation of tone, with the foreground ships rendered in slightly darker ink to create a sense of depth. The drawing’s structure relies on semiotic signs, each flag and ship type functioning as a signifier of national identity and naval power. The linear precision is indicative of an ordered view of the world, but it also hints at the instability inherent in maritime power. Van de Velde II destabilizes the established meanings of naval dominance by presenting the fleets in close proximity, suggesting a fluid and contingent relationship between the two great maritime powers. The drawing serves not just as a visual record of naval strength but as an exploration of the transient nature of power and the cultural codes that underpin it.