Vier mannen in een schip c. 1650 - 1675

Pieter Coopse made this drawing of four men in a ship, likely in the 17th century, using pen and ink on paper. Notice how the stark contrast of ink on paper emphasizes the coarse texture of the boat's wooden planks. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and shadow, giving the boat a weighty presence on the water. You can almost feel the rhythmic motion of the oars and the gentle rocking of the vessel. Coopse was a draughtsman and his work is deeply rooted in the everyday life and industry of the period. It reflects a society deeply reliant on maritime activities for trade and transport. The social context of labor is subtly present here, in the depiction of the men working together to navigate the waterways. By focusing on materials, making, and context we can see the social fabric of 17th-century Dutch society through this modest drawing.