“The Blockade on the ‘Connecticut Plan,'” an artwork by Currier and Ives, belongs to the Romanticism art movement and is classified under the genre of marina. The artwork depicts a maritime scene featuring three vessels named “Cambridge,” “Nashville,” and “Gemsbok.” Each vessel is manned by sailors engaged in various tasks, with speech bubbles illustrating their dialogues, adding to the narrative aspect of the scene. The sailing ships bear flags and are placed against a backdrop of waves and sky, indicating the maritime blockade.
In the artwork, the “Cambridge” is depicted as a steamship with a plume of smoke coming from its stack, filled with sailors seemingly strategizing the blockade. The “Nashville” ship appears to be in the process of being intercepted, positioned centrally with its crew giving orders and observing the other vessels. The “Gemsbok,” a smaller vessel, appears to be a sailing ship with its crew also participating in the commentary regarding the blockade strategy. The overall theme is a depiction of naval strategy and action, imbued with elements of Romanticism, characterized by a dramatic and dynamic portrayal of maritime activity.
