Fisherman with Pack over His Shoulder

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (editor) and Cornelis Brouwer (printmaker), after Ludolf Backhuysen

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a seascape with a view that captures both the sea and sky. Closest to us, a figure stands on a rocky outcrop, gazing towards the water. Beyond him, a sailboat is depicted on the water, its sail billowing with the wind, as a small flag flutters at the stern. The horizon is positioned roughly in the lower third of the image, providing a clear separation between the water and the sky. The skyline includes distant land formations and other vessels that are barely discernible against the water. The sky occupies a large portion of the image, filled with clouds and streaming light that emerge from a patch of brightness near the horizon. The style is characterized by soft, diffused brushstrokes that create a sense of atmosphere and texture, particularly in the treatment of the clouds and water. The color palette is muted, using a monochrome range of earthy browns and greys.