Artwork
De Derde Zee-slagh (The Third Sea Battle)
De Derde Zee-slagh (The Third Sea Battle) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Dutch 17th Century. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. De Derde Zee-slagh is a Baroque-era print that combines etching with letterpress on laid paper.
About this work
Overview
De Derde Zee-slagh is a Baroque-era print that combines etching with letterpress on laid paper. The image portrays a tumultuous naval engagement, dominated by a central Dutch vessel surrounded by burning and sinking ships, while a smaller boat appears to flee in the foreground. A Dutch caption in formal cursive script runs alongside the image, identifying the work as “The Third Sea Battle.”
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the chaos of a sea battle, emphasizing the peril and violence of 17th‑century naval warfare. By focusing on a central Dutch ship amid flames and wreckage, the print underscores themes of conflict, national resilience, and the precariousness of maritime power during the period.
Technique & Style
Executed in etching, the artist incised fine lines into a metal plate to render intricate details of rigging, smoke, and water. The printed image is overlaid with a letterpress block that adds the Dutch explanatory text. The work exemplifies Baroque aesthetics through stark contrasts of light and dark, dynamic movement, and dramatic chiaroscuro that heighten the scene’s intensity.
Context
Created within the broader Baroque movement, the print reflects contemporary interest in documenting military events and celebrating naval achievements. The use of both visual and textual elements aligns with the period’s practice of combining image and narrative to inform and engage viewers about current affairs.
Legacy
As a hybrid of etching and letterpress, De Derde Zee-slagh illustrates early modern printmaking’s capacity to merge illustration with printed commentary. The piece contributes to the visual record of Dutch maritime history and offers insight into the ways Baroque artists visualized warfare for a literate audience.
Artist & collection
Artist
This Dutch artist made small, sharp engravings and etchings—mostly portraits and sea battles—printed from metal plates.
The Battle of the Zuider Zee, 1573
The Battle of Terheide
The Second Naval Battle
The battle of the Zuider Zee, 1573
The Second Naval Battle
Naval Battle
Battle between the Dutch and Swedish Fleets, in the Sound, 8 November 1658
The skirmish of Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter against the duke of York, commanding the 'Royal Prince'during the Battle of Solebay, 7 June 1672: episode from the Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74)
Slag bij Terheide
Ships after a battle