Ships off the coast, Willem van de Velde (II), after 1670
Painters in the 17th century focused on specific genres. Thus Willem van de Velde developed into a marine painter, perhaps the most successful in history. He depicted large, spectacular sea battles as well as small, tranquil coastal scenes, such as this panel. Modest merchant ships lie on the mirror-smooth surface of the water. A little farther away, in the second plan, two warships are visible, quietly waiting for what is to come
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