1701
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Launching a Ship is a 1701 by Ludolf Bakhuizen, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This etching shows a busy shipyard scene. A large sailing ship is being launched into the water, with workers pulling it down a slipway. On the left, a man on horseback watches the action. Other people stand or crouch near the water’s edge, some holding tools or ropes. The waves and sails are drawn with sharp lines, and the whole scene feels full of movement. The artist focused on the drama of the ship’s launch, showing how many hands it takes to get a vessel into the water. The text at the bottom names the Dutch artist, Ludolf Backhuysen, who often painted ships and seaports. Check out more of Ludolf Backhuysen’s work to see how he captured ships in action.
Ludolf Bakhuizen (28 December 1630 or 1632 – 7 November 1708) was a German-born Dutch painter, draughtsman, calligrapher and printmaker.
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