Hoekerschip Vrouw Machtelyna voor de haven van Curaçao, 1782 1782

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this print in 1782, depicting the armed ship ‘Vrouw Machtelyna’ near the port of Curaçao. The title of the ship itself, which translates to "Woman Machtelyna," brings forth a compelling paradox when viewed through the lens of the 18th century. During this era, ships were frequently personified as female entities, embodying a complex interplay of power, possession, and gender. The naming of ships after women was a widespread cultural practice, yet the women themselves were largely excluded from the realms of maritime power and commerce. Bendorp’s depiction of the ship at dawn invokes an emotional juxtaposition. The ship is rendered against the backdrop of Curaçao, a focal point of the Dutch slave trade, a cruel contrast to the symbolic feminine protection the ship's name implies. This artwork therefore invites us to consider the human cost and the contested identities at the heart of maritime trade.