1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Seated White Sailor and a Standing Black Sailor is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows two sailors on a small boat in rough water. One is seated, holding an oar, while the other stands behind him, also gripping an oar. In the background, a large sailing ship with three masts looms over them. The artist used fine lines to show the sailors’ struggle against the waves. The boat’s hull is detailed, but the faces are simple—just enough to feel the tension. Next, check out etching to see how artists like this one carved images into metal plates.
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
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