De Salemander een Oostindis Vaerder 1635 - 1670

Curator: Here we have Reinier Nooms's "De Salemander een Oostindis Vaerder," an engraving and print likely created between 1635 and 1670. The scene depicts a large sailing vessel, seemingly a Dutch East Indiaman. Editor: It has this haunting tranquility. Just the stillness of the water and then this behemoth, this almost impossibly intricate ship looming above. It's… imposing. Curator: It is, and the Salamander herself bears symbolic weight. The salamander in mythology, especially alchemy, represents endurance and survival through fire. In this context, it possibly signifies the VOC's resilience and reach in the spice trade, even amidst harsh conditions. The ship almost becomes an emblem of the VOC's power and ambitions. Editor: But looking at it closer, I feel a conflicting narrative. Look at the delicate linework—all those tiny, individual strokes that build the massive ship. It reminds me of how empires themselves are constructed: fragile, almost painstakingly built bit by bit, with no guarantee of lasting forever, right? It’s beautiful and terrible all at once. Curator: Precisely. It's a testament to Dutch Golden Age printmaking—and how commercial activity gets transformed into art. Beyond its historical context, the work illustrates our deep, archetypal connection with the sea. Notice the lone figures, rendered so small, almost at the bow? It echoes how we conceptualize ourselves—both mastering nature while simultaneously humbled by its grandeur. Editor: The vast ocean reduces us, and still, we dream of crossing it! To your point: there’s something very Romantic about the sheer audacity of those masts and rigging reaching for the sky… Curator: I find it especially interesting how a simple drawing can tell such complex narratives, connecting economics with elemental myths, cultural identities with private introspection. A real vortex of symbolic depth! Editor: Well, for me, I'm just sitting here, feeling small. I’m reminded that humans can build the most wondrous things but still only occupy a tiny space on the canvas of the world.