Aankomst van de Hollands-Engelse vloot met koning Karel III te Lissabon, 1704 1707 - 1720

Pieter Schenk created this print in 1704, showing the arrival of the Dutch-English fleet carrying King Charles III in Lisbon. This event occurred during the War of the Spanish Succession, a conflict largely about imperial power, specifically who would control the Spanish throne and its vast territories. Schenk’s print can be understood as a piece of political propaganda. Charles III, backed by an alliance of European powers, was attempting to claim the Spanish throne against Philip V, supported by France. Consider how the artist emphasizes the might of the fleet, a visual assertion of power meant to bolster support for Charles' cause. The orderly arrangement of ships and the detailed rendering of Lisbon create a sense of stability and promise, strategically designed to inspire confidence in Charles's claim. However, such images often mask the human cost of conflict. What this print elides are the diverse experiences, struggles, and loss inflicted upon ordinary people in the pursuit of imperial ambitions.