Schepen voor een kust 1585 - 1588

Hendrick Goltzius made this print of ships near a coast sometime around 1600. The image presents us with a scene of maritime commerce, but it's equally a demonstration of Goltzius' skill as a printmaker. The prominence of the ships in this Dutch image reflects the importance of maritime trade to the Dutch Republic at this time. The Republic was a major economic power, and its wealth was built on its control of the seas. However, this image also raises questions about the costs of that wealth. What was the human cost of this trade? What impact did it have on the environment? These are questions that we, as historians, can explore by looking at other sources from the period, such as archival documents, travelogues, and scientific treatises. By understanding the social and institutional context in which art is made, we can begin to understand its full meaning and significance.