De haven van Aden, 1613 1632 - 1646

Adriaen Matham made this print, De haven van Aden, in 1613, using etching and engraving. Look closely, and you'll see the crisp lines created by the engraver's burin, alongside the more textured marks achieved by etching with acid. The labor-intensive process of printmaking speaks to the booming Dutch economy of the 17th century. Prints like this weren't simply decorative; they were crucial tools for disseminating information about distant lands and trade opportunities. Matham never visited Aden himself, so he relied on existing visual sources to create this image. Note the ships, rendered with meticulous detail. Each sail, rope, and plank suggests the immense effort required to construct and maintain these vessels. These ships were, of course, the engines of global trade, powered by the labor of countless sailors, navigators, and shipbuilders. The image thus becomes more than just a scenic view; it's a window into the complex networks of labor, capital, and colonial expansion that defined the era. Understanding its making helps us decode its meaning.