Zeilschepen op open water tijdens een storm 1764 - 1791

Curator: Let's discuss "Zeilschepen op open water tijdens een storm," an engraving from between 1764 and 1791, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The print depicts sailing ships on open water during what appears to be a storm. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by the dramatic contrast – the churning, chaotic sea versus the relative composure of the ships, and its aged quality makes me think about maritime colonial power at the time it was made. Curator: Yes, the use of engraving lends itself to that sharp contrast. The artist, Mathias de Sallieth, utilizes line work to great effect here. Note the almost mathematical precision in rendering the waves versus the billowing clouds. What do you make of the ship's placement in the overall composition? Editor: I see them as emblems of human ambition pitched against the forces of nature, yet simultaneously dependent on and exploiting that nature. I'm reminded of the many lives claimed by maritime pursuits during the Age of Exploration. Were people aware of their coloniality and exploitation through artworks at this time? Curator: Interesting point. Certainly, prints like these circulated widely and would have been viewed through varying lenses. Considering the Romantic and Baroque influences, the artist might have been interested in the sublime—that awe-inspiring yet terrifying power of nature. Editor: But even the concept of the sublime can be tied to colonial agendas. The romanticization of nature often coincided with the exploitation of land and resources in colonized territories. Curator: An astute observation. So, by examining the aesthetic construction, we can appreciate its artistry while remaining critical of the cultural moment that produced it. Editor: Exactly. We can begin to view this historical lens through contemporary dialogues about power and environmental justice. Curator: Indeed, viewing this print provides insight into the formal and socio-political contexts of its creation. Editor: Absolutely, offering critical viewpoints to the visual rhetoric deployed in representations of Dutch maritime power.