This is an offset from another drawing, rubbed on the back and worked up in graphite and wash. An offset was a method used by the van de Veldes to transfer the outline of a ship’s hull from an existing drawing onto a new piece of paper. The new piece of paper was placed over the original drawing and rubbed on the back producing a faint drawing which could be worked up with graphite or pen and ink and any additional detail added.

The whaler is shown at anchor. Whale boats are slung on both davits aft and there is another in the tackles (mechanism of ropes and blocks) amidships and a fourth is lying alongside. The drawing is unsigned.