In the Netherlands of the 17th century, the coastal landscape developed into a distinct subject matter alongside heroic marine painting. Artists like Jan van Goyen captured the everyday life and typical maritime climate of a country shaped by trade in subdued tones.
Sea and identity
The outstanding role which the sea played in the development and growth of the Netherlands gave rise to its own type of imagery in the so-called 'Golden Age': the coastal landscape.
At the time, Dutch marine art also reached its peak: the victories at sea which accompanied the rise of the young republic in the fight against the Spaniards and the English demanded depictions that needed to be as detailed as they were spectacular in sometimes extremely large formats. The aim was to instil a mood of patriotism among the viewers and to confirm them in their belief that they were God’s chosen people.
In contrast, coastal shipping, which was equally vital for the Netherlands, offers a completely different picture, one devoid of any propagandistic aspects. With their shallow draught, the low transport ships, such as those that dominated coastlines, rivers and canals, established a connection between the individual centres and secured the supplies to the country. Of unspectacular appearance, the sluggish vessels seem to be as one with the element carrying them but represent nothing less than the logistics and infrastructure of a state that depended entirely on the movement of goods.
Jan van Goyen’s settings appear calm and restrained. They are characterised by a painting technique which obtains many tones adjacent to each other from relatively few colours instead of bright local colours. The technique is completely in harmony with the undramatic atmosphere of the depictions. In this way, the painter achieved a realistic characterisation of the misty, damp sea climate which is still typical of the Netherlands today.
Text: Ulrich Becker