MIT Museum

Major collection: Hart Nautical
Named collection: Allan Forbes Collection
Object type: lithograph
Maker: Verhoesen, A.
Place made: Netherlands
Date made: 1800-1899
Materials: ink; paper
Measurements: 8 1/2 in x 16 1/2 in
Nomenclature: cartoons
Classification: whales

Uncolored lithograph with five captioned scenes, each depicting Kessels with the Ostend Whale (a dead whale found off of Ostend in the late 1820s, whose skeleton then toured the museums of the West). The first, from left, shows a man riding a horse wagon with a bag labeled "Kessel" speaking to a standing man in uniform, who says "Kasse". Caption "Debut als Douanier." (Debut as a customs officer). Next, a dark bedroom scene where the Devil shows a sleeping man a ray of images including many fish, a cannon, and a hanged man. Caption "De toevallige Droom te Chaam" (A chance dream for the body). Next, a man holding a bag shaking hands with a man with a cane, with the beached Ostend whale, onlookers, and ships in the background. Caption "Den gesloten Koop aan het strand te Ostende." (The sale closed on the Ostend beach). Next, outside a building with a stage curtain, a man holding a stick points it at a banner displaying a whale, and beside him, a man in military uniform points to the left. Caption, "De vereerde Walwische kkooper of de Schavuit voor zyn tent met een Kruis beloond" (The revered whale-buyer rewarded with a cross in front of his tent). Next, a procession of men riding on whales fitted out with two sheels a piece, one with a flag, and a cannon on wheels at the end of the procession, labeled "Bevelhebber der Artellerie van de Muitelingen" (Commander of the Rebel Artillery).

AF-CD-0085