Zeeslag bij Dungeness, 1652 1848 - 1855

Petrus Johannes Schotel created this marine painting, "Zeeslag bij Dungeness, 1652" using pen and brush in gray. Schotel was part of a family of Dutch marine painters who were documenting the naval battles of the Netherlands. This work depicts the Battle of Dungeness in 1652, during the First Anglo-Dutch War, a conflict rooted in trade and naval dominance. The Dutch Golden Age was marked by maritime power, but also by social stratification and colonial expansion. Here, we witness an idealized portrayal of naval conflict, obscuring the human cost of war and the complex socio-political dynamics at play. While the painting celebrates Dutch naval prowess, it also invites reflection on the legacies of colonialism and the human impact of maritime conflict. What does it mean to memorialize battles fought for economic dominance and colonial expansion?