Ontzet van Gibraltar, 1705 1712 - 1715

Johann Jakob Kleinschmidt created this print, "Ontzet van Gibraltar, 1705," sometime around that year. It commemorates a naval battle that played a part in the War of the Spanish Succession. This detailed engraving doesn't just show ships and conflict; it embodies the complex political identity of the time. Gibraltar, a territory that has seen numerous shifts in power, stands as a focal point. Kleinschmidt frames the scene with allegorical figures and heraldry, traditional symbols of power. Yet, what do these symbols mean when seen from the perspectives of those who were colonized? The image is a visual document of European power struggles but also hints at the human cost and cultural shifts inherent in such conflicts. It encourages us to reflect on the narratives we construct around historical events, and whose stories get told.