Duyfken wordt verwelkomd door koning in het hemelse Jeruzalem 1590 - 1638

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert made this print, "Duyfken wordt verwelkomd door koning in het hemelse Jeruzalem", using engraving. The print serves as a symbolic representation of the arrival of the Duyfken, a Dutch ship, in what is now known as Australia, visualized as a heavenly Jerusalem with the King welcoming the crew into the city. The artist invites a meditation on themes of power, faith, and colonial ambition. Bolswert uses the visual language of religious allegory to frame a narrative about exploration and discovery. The historical context—of Dutch maritime expansion and trade—infuses the work with meanings of cultural encounter. The scene creates a complicated emotional space, where glory and conquest meet the spiritual yearning for a promised land.