Het Admiraliteitshof te Rotterdam 1790s

Jan Bulthuis rendered ‘Het Admiraliteitshof te Rotterdam’ with pen and gray ink, offering us a glimpse into the socio-political landscape of the late 18th century. Bulthuis captures the Admiralty Court, a symbol of Dutch naval power during a period marked by both colonial expansion and internal political strife. This institution embodies the complex relationship between commerce, governance, and military might. The city of Rotterdam, a bustling port, reflects the Netherlands' deep involvement in global trade networks, including the transatlantic slave trade. The figures populating the scene, from the gentry strolling with their dogs to the uniformed officials, subtly hint at the rigid social hierarchies of the time. The drawing thus serves as a reminder of how deeply structures of power and inequality were embedded in the everyday life of the Dutch Republic.