Het leggen van de kiel en het oprechten van het steven, plaat nr. 1, ca. 1700 1690 - 1710

Around 1700, Sieuwert van der Meulen created this print, "The Laying of the Keel and the Raising of the Stem, Plate No. 1", using etching. The composition is structured around the contrast between the grounded stasis of the shipyard in the foreground and the dynamic movement of the ships at sea in the background. Through a series of diagonal lines, the etched marks create texture to simulate depth and activity. Van der Meulen uses architectural elements of shipbuilding to engage with broader ideas of construction. The ship's keel, representing foundations, and the stem, symbolizing progress, become allegorical signs. This combination of the Latin title "NAVIGIORUM AEDIFICATIO" alongside an image of shipbuilding offers insight into the conceptual framework of the artwork, merging practical craft with symbolic representation. Through line and form, Van der Meulen invites us to explore the interplay between function and symbolism, reflecting on the cultural values embedded within the maritime practices of the time.