Gezicht op Kaap de Goede Hoop c. 1760 - 1775

This print, titled "Gezicht op Kaap de Goede Hoop," was produced by an anonymous artist. We don’t know exactly when, but it gives us a fascinating look at the visual culture surrounding global trade. Printed images like this were essential to shipping and commerce. The fine, controlled lines of the engraving must have required a skilled hand, as did the subtle application of color. Notice how the ships are all carefully delineated. The labor required to produce the print pales in comparison to the labor represented, however. The Cape of Good Hope was a crucial stop on the spice route, where ships would resupply on their voyages to and from the East Indies. All those ships represent staggering investment, hard work, and of course, the ongoing exploitation of natural resources and human beings. So, while this may seem a straightforward landscape print, it’s also a window onto the industrial processes and social realities of its time. We can see it not just as an image, but as a document of a world in motion.