Artwork

The Horrors of War: A Sea Battle

The Horrors of War: A Sea Battle, by Gottfried Bernhard Götz, ink, 1743
The Horrors of War: A Sea Battle, by Gottfried Bernhard Götz, ink, 1743

The Horrors of War: A Sea Battle is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Gottfried Bernhard Götz. It dates from 1743 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Horrors of War: A Sea Battle is a drawing created by Gottfried Bernhard Götz in 1743, depicting a chaotic and violent scene.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing shows a tumultuous sea battle with sinking ships, while on land, soldiers and horses engage in intense combat, conveying a sense of chaos and destruction.

Technique & Style

Götz employed a range of techniques, including cross-hatching with pen and brown ink, gray wash, and incising the paper to create texture and depth, resulting in a dynamic and expressive representation.

History & Provenance

Created in 1743 by Gottfried Bernhard Götz, the drawing is a representation of the artist's interpretation of the horrors of war.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.