Fishing Boats in a Calm
1651
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1651
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
This painting shows calm water where small fishing boats bob gently. The sky is soft and pale, almost matching the sea. A few clouds drift low, like they’re resting. Van de Cappelle often painted quiet water scenes like this. He used thin layers of oil paint, called glazing, to make light feel real. Look closely—the reflections in the water almost glow. See this work in person at the Art Institute of Chicago.
