Shipwreck off a Rocky Coast, Wijnand Nuijen, c. 1837
This painting is a highlight of Dutch Romanticism. It represents the insignificance of man in the face of nature. During a storm, a three-master has struck a rock and foundered. The crew desperately combs the beach in search of survivors. Rays of sun pierce through the gloomy sky and afford a view of the overwhelming sheer cliffs, which make the people seem even smaller.