1653
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Launch of a Ship is a 1653 ink by Nooms, called Zeeman, Reinier, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a busy scene by the water. A large ship is being pulled out of the water on a slipway, with a crowd of people helping or watching. Smaller boats float nearby, and buildings line the shore. The sky is dramatic, with thick clouds and a stormy feel. Notice how the artist used fine lines to create texture—like the wood of the ship or the waves in the water. This technique makes the scene feel almost three-dimensional. Want to know more about how this was made? Look up etching, drypoint, aquatint.
Reinier Nooms (c. 1623 – 1664), also known as Zeeman or Seeman (Dutch for "sailor"), was a Dutch maritime painter known for his highly detailed paintings and etchings of ships. From the 1650s, Nooms started producing…
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