Schepen met gewonden in het Spaarne, 1799 1801 - 1803

Ludwig Gottlieb Portman created this print called ‘Ships with wounded soldiers on the Spaarne’ in 1799. It depicts a scene in Haarlem, Netherlands, a city that was caught up in the tumult of revolutionary Europe. The print gives us insight into the social impact of war. We can see boats loaded with injured soldiers, a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict, against the backdrop of everyday life. Portman created this print during a period of political instability in the Netherlands, which was then known as the Batavian Republic. It was a satellite state of revolutionary France. The depiction of wounded soldiers in a public space serves as a powerful commentary on the disruptions caused by war. It’s worth noting that the Rijksmuseum itself, where this print is housed, was established in the late 18th century. The print is therefore closely tied to the development of Dutch national identity and the role of art in shaping historical memory. To understand the print, we need to look into military records, city archives, and personal accounts from the period. Only then can we grasp the social and political dynamics that influenced Portman's work and its reception.