Voorsteven en boegbeeld van een zeilschip met 50 kanonnen 1799 - 1800

This print by Joseph Coiny shows the prow and figurehead of a ship of the line. The composition features the ship's bow set against a sea of horizontal lines, creating an immediate contrast between the static structure and the dynamic flow of the water. Coiny employs a limited tonal range to emphasize form and texture. The details of the carved figurehead, which merges the forms of a sea creature with symbolic ornamentation, are meticulously rendered. The cannon extending out acts as a powerful signifier of naval might, with the stern bird statue a silent witness of the ocean's power. The image also touches on the semiotic level, where objects function as symbols of power and authority. The rigid structure of the ship, with its cannon and ornate carvings, is placed in contrast with the formless expanse of the sea. Coiny uses a formal vocabulary to explore how the ship destabilizes the fixed meaning of the ocean.