Amsterdam, Ships at the IJ on Choppy Waters
1691
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1691
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This painting shows a busy harbor with tall sailing ships on rough water. Some boats have red sails, others are brown or white, and the waves crash around them. In the background, a city skyline with buildings and a cloudy sky loom over the scene. The artist used a mix of ink and hand coloring to create the ships’ details. The water looks choppy, almost like the artist wanted to show the wind’s power. If you like this, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
