Kraak and other craft becalmed<br><p>Pieter Blaauw, or Blauw, was born on the Dutch sea coast at Hoorn on 2 November 1744 and became a sailor in the Dutch Navy. This calling and the fact that he was skilled in carving decorative details for ships gave him great assurance in the depiction of a variety of Dutch craft. He was self-taught as an artist and his work derives from his great predecessor Ludolf Backhuysen (1631-1708). His date of death (at Medemblik) is sometimes given as 2 December 1808, but the actual year may be 1812. This is one of a group of ten finished drawings in light colour washes in the Museum's collection.
</p><p>The kraak was an inland cargo vessel usually found in the west of Holland. The drawing is signed and dated 1799.<br></p>
Kraak and other craft becalmed
<div class="fn value">
Pieter Aartsz Blauw</div>
1799<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1799-00-00T00:00:00Z/9</div>
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