Sailing in the ice and seeking for the whale

Object summary

Title: Sailing in the ice and seeking for the whale
Object ID: AF-WD-0087A
Date made: 1720-1730
Place made: Netherlands, North Holland, Amsterdam
Engraver: Laan, Adolf van der
Draughtsman: Meulen, Sieuwert van der
Publisher: Schenk, Pieter
Object type: Engraving
Major collection: Nautical
Named collection: Allan Forbes Collection
On view: No

Description

Whaling in the Arctic Ocean, around 1725. Two polar bears are featured in the foreground as three boats filled with sailors row towards a whale whose back is exposed in the water. Four larger sailing vessels rest in the distance.

One of a series of 12 engravings from Views of the Greenland Whale Fishery (Kline Visschery). Titles in Dutch, German, and English. Each inscribed S. Vdr. Meulen Delineavit. A Vander Laan Fecit. P. Schenk Iun: Excud[it]. Amst[erdam] Cum Priv[ilegio].