Zeegezicht met twee schepen in een storm 1723 - 1789

Jacob Hoolaart’s ‘Seascape with two ships in a storm’ captures a dramatic maritime scene with a monochromatic palette, likely made with etching or engraving. The sky and sea meld together through dense, swirling lines, conveying a sense of chaos and movement. This tempestuous atmosphere elicits feelings of turmoil and awe. The composition is structured around diagonal lines of the waves, creating a dynamic interplay between the ships and the sea. Hoolaart uses the etching technique to vary the tonal depth, suggesting the power of nature. Notice how the textures of the waves and clouds are rendered with short, controlled strokes, versus longer, flowing lines used to outline the ships. The storm may be seen as a symbol of the sublime, reflecting late 18th century philosophical ideas about the overwhelming force of nature, echoing Edmund Burke’s writings on the sublime and the beautiful. The detailed rendering of the ships and the storm serves not only as an aesthetic experience, but also as a meditation on human vulnerability.