Cheyne cut nine wood blocks to make this work. He used five separate blocks, four of which are cut on both sides. Each of the colours would have been printed separately, layered one on top of the other. The inking of each block would be done by hand and each colour superimposed on top of the other in precise registration. This print is marked 4/20, showing that Cheyne made just twenty copies. By limiting the edition in this way, printmakers preserved the rarity value, and therefore the customer demand and price structure. Also, the blocks would become worn and the quality of the image would deteriorate if very many copies were made. Cheyne has adopted a birds-eye view of this scene which accentuates the drama of the stormy sea and bleak landscape.