Verovering van de Zilvervloot door Piet Hein, 1628 1787 - 1788

This print, Verovering van de Zilvervloot door Piet Hein, captures the Dutch capture of the Spanish silver fleet in 1628, using the graphic technique of etching. Think about the labor that went into it: the manual skill of the etcher, dragging a fine point across a copper plate, balanced by their client’s investment in a piece of propaganda. The image would have been printed in multiples, circulated widely, and consumed en masse. The success of the Dutch Republic was based on this type of extraction of wealth from other parts of the world. It was a victory of capitalism as much as a naval triumph. The ships depicted here weren't just instruments of war; they were complex engines of global trade, built by legions of skilled craftsmen. When you look at this print, remember that the techniques of making and circulation are part of the story being told. They highlight the intricate relationship between craft, commerce, and cultural power.