Gezicht op een deel van de haven van Vlaardingen 1747 - 1775

Jan Caspar Philips created this print of Vlaardingen harbor in the 18th century. At this time, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, and prints like this one celebrated the wealth and activity of its port cities. This tranquil scene belies the grueling labor that fueled this economy. We see men loading barrels onto ships, but not the enslaved people in the colonies whose labor produced these goods. Note the women in their long dresses; the Dutch Republic was known for its relative freedom, but women still occupied a different social sphere to men. The church tower looms in the background, a reminder of the religious beliefs that shaped daily life. Philips’ print invites us to consider whose stories are told in images of prosperity, and whose are left out. It's a reminder that every image is a product of the society that created it, with all its complexities and contradictions.