Omslag voor: Studiën van Hollandsche schepen c. 1860

This is Johan Conrad Greive's, 'Omslag voor: Studiën van Hollandsche schepen', made in Amsterdam. The etching depicts a boat with a makeshift sail displaying text, advertising studies of Dutch ships. Greive lived in a time of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands. As industrialization progressed, traditional ways of life connected to the water became increasingly romanticized. The decision to focus on 'Dutch ships' speaks to a burgeoning sense of national identity, tied to maritime history. The detailed rendering of the boat, suggests an emotional connection to the subject matter. It emphasizes a longing for a seemingly simpler time. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore that maritime history is also deeply entwined with colonialism and trade, and the power structures of 19th-century Europe. The image encapsulates pride and perhaps a desire for a particular vision of Dutch history.