Zeegezicht 1708 - 1781

Pieter Idserts created this ink drawing, Zeegezicht, with pen and gray ink and brush in the 18th century. It shows a seascape, with an emphasis on atmospheric conditions. The Dutch Golden Age of the previous century saw an explosion of marine painting. Idserts continues this tradition. But here we see something starker, something less celebratory of Dutch maritime power. The tiny sail on the horizon reminds us of the human endeavor of seafaring, yet it emphasizes its fragility in the face of a vast nature. The drawing evokes a sense of the sublime. It is a popular aesthetic category in the 18th century, in which powerful and overwhelming natural forces are celebrated. We can research the impact of the enlightenment and the rise of scientific rationalism at this time, to understand the changing role of nature in art. Such resources help us see this work in its true historical light.