Verovering van San Salvador in Brazilië door admiraal Jacob Willekes, 1624 1624

This is an anonymous print depicting the Conquest of San Salvador in Brazil by Admiral Jacob Willekes in 1624. The image, rendered in monochrome, presents a bird's-eye view of the battle, with a dense array of ships populating the bay, set against the backdrop of a fortified cityscape. The composition is structured to convey depth and movement, yet the visual field is flattened, typical of the period’s cartographic and illustrative styles. Formally, the print uses a combination of linear precision and textural variation to distinguish between the elements. The detailed rendering of the ships and the city contrasts with the more schematic depiction of the landscape. The use of text within the image, both as titles and as explanatory notes, integrates textual and visual modes of representation. Such prints functioned not only as records of historical events but also as instruments of propaganda, shaping public perception of Dutch colonial endeavors. The ordered arrangement of the ships and the strategic positioning of the cityscape convey a sense of Dutch power and control, reflecting the broader geopolitical ambitions of the time.