Allegorie op Waakzaamheid en Recht door Zee, 1795 1795

Carel Frederik Bendorp made this print titled 'Allegorie op Waakzaamheid en Recht door Zee' in 1795. It was made using the intaglio printmaking technique, probably etching or engraving, which involves incising lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then using a press to transfer the ink to paper. The precision of the lines and the fineness of the details suggest a labor-intensive process, indicative of the skilled handiwork involved. The allegorical scene, with figures representing vigilance and justice at sea, as well as the Dutch trading ship, speaks to the economic and political concerns of the time. The brickwork frame around the image adds another layer, perhaps alluding to the architecture of Dutch power, while the orderly lines of the printmaking echo the systematization of trade and governance. The material and the making of this print thus embody the values of precision, order, and control that were central to Dutch maritime power. It makes you consider the relationship between artistic production and the broader economic and social forces at play in the 18th century.