Fantasiegezicht op een zuidelijke haven 17th century

Jan Abrahamsz. Beerstraten made this drawing, Fantasiegezicht op een zuidelijke haven, with pen in the Netherlands. This imaginary scene is something of a fantasy of an ideal port. In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was at its height as a maritime power, with ships traveling to ports around the world. This image combines the familiar with the exotic. We can see the influence of Dutch marine painting in the ships, but the classical ruins remind us of the Mediterranean. This image reflects a cultural desire to be associated with a glorious past. In a way, it also connects to the Republic’s sense of itself as a modern-day Rome, a new kind of republic. It is a self-consciously progressive statement, combining a sense of national pride with a reach for international recognition. Further research into the iconography of Dutch marine painting and the political history of the Dutch Republic could give us a better understanding of this drawing. The meaning of art is always dependent on social and institutional context.