Ships
1681
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Melchior Küsel
Melchior Küsel (1626–1684) was an artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page1681
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ships is a 1681 ink by Melchior Küsel, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows three big ships tangled together in rough water. One ship is sinking, its sails drooping, while people in small boats scramble nearby. The waves crash against the wreckage, and the scene looks chaotic but detailed. The text at the bottom calls it *"Ships"* and names a Spanish ship type, but the focus is on the struggle of the sailors. The lines are sharp and precise, showing how hard it was to draw all those ropes and waves. Want to see more? Check out etching to learn how artists like this made prints.
Melchior Küsel (1626–1684) was an artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page
