Verovering van twee Spaanse admiraalsschepen door de vloot van de WIC onder admiraal Pieter Adriaensz. Ita, 1628 1651 - 1652

This print, made in 1628 by an anonymous artist, captures the Dutch West India Company's victory over two Spanish ships. The method of production – engraving – is crucial here. See how the artist meticulously carves lines into a metal plate. This painstaking process mirrors the laborious and risky work of seafaring itself. Each tiny stroke contributes to a broader narrative, a celebration of Dutch maritime power. The print’s monochrome palette and the rigid lines of the ships reflect the calculated, profit-driven world of the Dutch West India Company. Consider the sheer labor involved – from the engraver's hand to the sailors on the ships. This wasn't just a battle; it was a business transaction etched in ink, a visual assertion of economic dominance. The image reminds us that art and commerce have always been intertwined, with each impression of this print serving as a small piece of propaganda, celebrating the spoils of capitalism and the world of labour it represents.