Gezicht op de haven te Malta 1742 - 1801

Georg Balthasar Probst made this print of the harbor in Malta sometime around the late 18th century. It shows us the port as a bustling center of trade and military might, with ships flying flags emblazoned with the Maltese cross. The image isn't just a neutral depiction. It’s deeply embedded in the political and economic realities of the time. Malta, due to its geographic position, was a crucial strategic point, controlled for centuries by the Knights of Malta. This print, with its careful attention to fortifications and naval activity, speaks to the island's importance in the geopolitical chessboard of Europe. Prints like these circulated among European elites, informing and shaping perceptions of distant lands. To understand this image better, we can delve into the archives of maritime history, and study the records of the Knights of Malta. These resources can help us understand the relationship between art and the social, political, and economic conditions in which it was produced.