Gezicht op de Admiraliteitswerf te Vlissingen 1779 - 1780

This is Jan Arends's "View of the Admiralty Shipyard in Vlissingen," an engraving that captures a bustling scene of shipbuilding. It presents us with a slice of Dutch maritime power, but it also hints at the complex social structures that underpinned this era of expansion and trade. The print depicts a shipyard in Vlissingen, a crucial port for the Dutch navy and the Dutch East India Company. Notice the skeletal frame of a ship under construction, juxtaposed with the fully rigged vessels in the background. The figures, rendered with careful detail, are a mix of laborers and overseers. The division of labor is palpable, suggesting the strict hierarchies that defined the lives of those who built and sailed these ships. Consider how this image might evoke pride in Dutch craftsmanship and maritime prowess, while simultaneously obscuring the forced labor and colonial exploitation that fueled this industry. What stories remain untold in this depiction of industrious activity?