“During the 1600s, as the Dutch rose to power as a trading nation, artists set out to capture battles at sea, bustling ports and the natural vistas of wind, sky and sunlight on water. These luminous seascapes introduced the world to a new source of inspiration – the drama, tranquility and romance of land and sea. With more than 70 of the finest oil paintings on view in The Golden Age of Dutch Seascapes, you can see why, for the Dutch, the ocean was their window on the world.” – PEM
The Golden Age of Dutch Seascapes can be seen at the Peabody Essex Museum until September 7, 2009. A review of the show can be found on nytimes.