In the exhibition Quadrant: Four themes of Petrus van der Velden (20 October 2006 – 25 March 2007) this work appeared with the following label: In this squared-up tracing drawing, Van der Velden uses ink to focus on the most important features of the composition: the funeral barge, the figures and the village beyond. The barge is shown nearing the village of Marken, with the distinctive bell tower of the village church seen in the background. As the barge moves along the canal, the dead fisherman’s family mourn their loss, draped over the coffin. Tracing drawings such as this were used to provide the correct proportions and perspective for the artist to later accurately transfer onto a canvas for painting. Van der Velden used this drawing, along with his pencil and charcoal studies, to complete his finished paintings.