Gevechten met de Portugezen bij Sao Tiago, 1598 1617 - 1619

This is an anonymous engraving titled 'Gevechten met de Portugezen bij Sao Tiago, 1598,' depicting a battle in what is now known as Praia, Cape Verde. Created during a period of intense European maritime expansion, the print offers a glimpse into the fraught colonial encounters that defined the era. While seemingly a straightforward depiction of conflict, the image is loaded with socio-political implications. The Dutch ships, marked with names like "Trouwe" and "Hope", signal the aspirations and justifications that drove their incursions into territories already inhabited by diverse populations. Consider the unacknowledged perspectives and experiences of the indigenous people caught in the crossfire of these power struggles. What stories are silenced in this depiction of conquest? The engagement shown in the image reminds us of the human cost of exploration and exploitation, prompting reflection on the legacies of colonialism that continue to resonate today.