Coast of Holland showing a pile-driver at work<br><p>In the centre middle-distance a pile-driver is being used to build a sea-wall below some dunes. On the left a weyschuit is hauled up stern-first on a beach near a beacon, and several other small vessels are at anchor on a calm sea to the right. 
</p><p>This work is one of a group of twelve drawings of shore scenes or distant views of the Dutch coastline in pen and brown ink (PAE5158, PAE5159, PAE5160, PAE5161, PAE5162, PAE5163, PAE5164, PAE5165, PAE5166, PAE5167, PAE5168, PAE5169). It is likely from the appearance of the ships in all these works that they were made in the 1650s. They were probably done in connection with the elder van de Velde's earliest pen-paintings, since he probably did not need such sketches later, and had passed as by several different artists until re-attributed by Sir Bruce Ingram.<br></p>
Coast of Holland showing a pile-driver at work
<div class="fn value">
Willem Van de Velde, the Elder</div>
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