The Dutch Fleet in a Strong Breeze
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This is a long, narrow drawing of ships sailing in windy water. The waves are small but choppy, and the boats look busy adjusting their sails. The whole scene is in light pencil strokes, with just a few darker marks for shadows or movement. The artist focused on how the wind affects the water and sails, not the details of the ships themselves. This kind of careful observation was common in Dutch marine drawings. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.
