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

Claes Jansz. Visscher made this print of 'The Conquest of San Salvador in Brazil by Admiral Jacob Willekes' around 1624. The composition is divided into three horizontal zones. The lower band consists of the title and text. The middle section shows the bay filled with ships, and the top zone presents the city and landscape. The ships are densely packed, creating a dynamic sense of movement and military might, while the town appears almost still in comparison. This contrast highlights the strategic importance of the naval assault. The stark monochrome medium emphasises line and detail, characteristic of the detailed documentary prints popular during the Dutch Golden Age. The print’s structure echoes the historical context of Dutch maritime expansion and the desire to record and disseminate such events. This work functions less as a celebration of aesthetic beauty and more as a form of visual reportage, imbuing a sense of Dutch power and authority over new territories.