From calm waters to towering waves: the sea is different every day. In the 17th century, the sea became a popular subject among painters. No wonder: in those days, the Netherlands was a seafaring nation, and the sea was everywhere. Painters like Willem van de Velde and Jan Porcellis brought this subject to life. Their seascapes show the beauty of the sea, as well as how dangerous and unpredictable it can be.
Paintings of naval battles
Seascapes often depicted key historical events. Think of the trade voyages of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), or famous sea battles. The event in the picture didn’t need to be portrayed literally, as long as viewers understood what it meant. And it didn’t matter if the scene was idealised or depicted more heroically or dramatically. What mattered was capturing the sea and sky with verve and energy. Nature played the starring role.
Symbolism in the waves
So seascapes weren’t simply accurate representations of ships and harbours. They had the power to convey a message about life and impermanence, like a ship tossed about in a terrible storm. A seascape showed man’s power over water – or vice versa. When you stand in front of a painting by Porcellis or Van de Velde, you can almost feel the chill wind, pouring rain and sprays of seawater.
