Galei bij de bestorming van een kasteel 1667

Abraham Dircksz. Santvoort created this print, Galei bij de bestorming van een kasteel, or Galley at the storming of a castle, using etching techniques sometime in the mid-17th century. The image vibrates with the dynamism of warfare, but this isn't the only conflict on display here. The Dutch Republic, at this time, was struggling for independence from Habsburg Spain. This print reveals that the Dutch were also deeply involved in overseas territorial struggles, with many enslaved people visible in the foreground. Prints such as this were important for establishing a sense of shared identity and civic pride, even as they conveniently obscured some of the brutally exploitative aspects of Dutch culture. Historians use a wide range of archival documents to piece together the complex circumstances in which artworks are made and consumed, from ship manifests and financial accounts to personal letters and diaries. These sources help us understand the social and institutional contexts that shape the meaning of art.