Van de Cappelle was particularly adept at depicting atmosphere in his seascapes. Here, with a narrow spectrum of muted tones, he captures the visual effect of boats in the distance partially shrouded by fog. Reflections on the water’s glassy surface convey its calmness. Fishermen work from the small boat in the foreground, while a barge-like kaag and a smak, a type of sailing vessel, appear in the middle ground. The artist’s whimsical inclusion of a pod of dolphins or porpoises at lower left suggests that the waters are rich with fish, an important resource for the Dutch economy.

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