Zeilschip 1797 - 1838

This is Johannes Christiaan Schotel’s “Zeilschip,” made sometime during his lifetime, between 1787 and 1838. Schotel was a Dutch marine painter, a specialist in nautical scenes during a period of intense international maritime activity. The image shows a ship from a unique perspective, close up and personal. It draws us into the reality of maritime travel, its construction, and the immensity of the ship. The artwork is not only about trade and travel, but also reflects a very specific world view. It offers a glimpse into the masculine world of sailors and naval officers, and the complexities of international trade, colonialism, and empire, all enabled by such ships. The materiality of the ship is front and center, revealing its internal structure. Schotel invites us to consider the labor and resources required to construct and operate these vessels, and perhaps to reflect on their role in shaping global history. The roughness of the drawing mirrors the roughness of the sea.