Zeeslag 1797 - 1838

This is Johannes Christiaan Schotel’s pencil drawing "Zeeslag". Schotel, who lived from 1787 to 1838, specialized in maritime scenes during a time when the Netherlands was deeply connected to the sea through trade and naval power. The drawing depicts a naval battle, capturing the intensity and chaos of such encounters. In the 19th century, maritime power was not just about military might, it was deeply interwoven with national identity and economic prosperity. The ships, rendered with meticulous detail, evoke the human stories of adventure, trade, and conflict that were essential to Dutch culture. The sketch emphasizes the fraught relationship between humans and the sea. This drawing invites us to consider how historical narratives around maritime power often overshadow the stories of those who risked their lives on the open water, and those whose lives were affected by the conflicts at sea.