Siel, North Sea Coast Drawing

You are driving along the German North Sea coast, until you reach Fedderwardersiel. The historic centre exhibits a both exemplary as pitoresque harbour. Throughout history, the low dip of  land mass into the sea along the whole coast, always posed huge problems for navy, harbours and fishing. As during low tide any manouvre would have been impossible. Adjustments in architecture inside so-called Siels, which are natural, river-like drainage systems, would diminish the problem. Multichambered lockages were the answer, letting sweetwater out from the Siel and prevent flooding of the inland during high tide and storms. The moment you arrive in the city, the low levelled water of the low lide mirrors dark coloured clouds, which are being lashed over the sky by an especially steady and stiff breath of air. Sitting down on the harbourwall, which now ends ten meters above the water surface, you've got a splendid view over the slightly tilted and colourful fishing boats. They display all the primary colours, matching nicely with the accentuated, inky black clouds. *** Drawn on Paper with 297 × 420 mm, the here seen detail is 210 × 290 mm (Passe-Partout). Paper grammage: 180 g/m². Water-resistant, fade-proof ink. *** Version 1/97