A Dutch Vessel in a Strong Breeze
- Artist: Willem van de Velde
- Date: about 1670
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Dutch Vessel in a Strong Breeze" painted by Willem van de Velde. The scene depicts a dramatic moment where a larger vessel, the kaag, is trying to avoid collision with a smaller one. You can see the crew releasing the horizontal spar to take the wind out of the mainsail, slowing down the vessel and hoping to pass safely behind the smaller craft.
In the foreground, a smaller open boat heads towards them, with two men pointing at the impending catastrophe. The sideways sweep of the three vessels creates a sense of tension, emphasized by the converging diagonal lines. A beam of sunlight illuminates the sail of the kaag, highlighting the drama but also suggesting a glimmer of hope.
These types of scenes were popular in seventeenth-century Holland because they were exciting and thrilling to look at. However, they were also a reminder of the dangers faced by mariners who played a crucial role in the country's prosperity. The painting is done in oil on canvas, and it's believed to have been painted around 1670.
See it in person
A Dutch Vessel in a Strong Breeze hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
