Ships in a Harbor
Medium
Graphite with brush and gray wash on ivory laid paper, laid down on card
Dimensions
10.3 × 11.1 cm (4 1/16 × 4 3/8 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
84014
Art Historical Context
Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633–1707) was one of the foremost marine artists of the Dutch Golden Age, celebrated for his precise and atmospheric depictions of ships and naval life. “Ships in a Harbor” exemplifies his lifelong fascination with the sea, capturing the quiet activity of vessels at anchor. Working in both the Netherlands and England, van de Velde often produced such drawings as preparatory studies or independent works that documented the intricate rigging, hulls, and sails of contemporary ships with remarkable accuracy. Executed in graphite with delicate gray washes on ivory...