Det nye værft på Christianshavn 1741 - 1743

C.V. created this print of ‘The New Wharf at Christianshavn’ in around 1702. It presents an image of Danish maritime infrastructure, showing the industry and technology that enabled the Danish kingdom to compete with its rivals in the Baltic Sea. The print creates meaning through its depiction of organized labour and impressive feats of engineering. Made at a time of repeated conflict, it is likely that the ships constructed at this wharf were warships that defended Denmark's trading interests. This enterprise would have relied on state patronage and private investment, along with the labour of skilled artisans and enslaved people, connecting the image to social and economic structures. Historians use sources, such as naval records and trade statistics, to reveal the complex relationship between art and society. By placing this print in its institutional and historical context, we can better understand its function as a piece of political propaganda.