Encyclopedische voorstelling van oorlogsschepen 1774

Curator: Standing before us is an engraving from 1774 titled, "Encyclopedische voorstelling van oorlogsschepen," or "Encyclopedic representation of warships" attributed to Johanna Dorothea Sysang and housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought is the remarkable detail, especially given that it's a print. It's almost a schematic diagram, meticulously rendered, like looking at the inner workings of these formidable ships. Curator: Precisely! Sysang's work exemplifies the Baroque era's penchant for ornate detail. It's printed from metal, likely copper, a common choice at the time for its capacity to hold fine lines and create a wealth of cross-hatching which gives us the rich tones that suggest volume and depth. We can consider here how metalworking processes contribute directly to the finished image and the skill required. Editor: Yes, and the composition itself is rather intriguing. We see two distinct views: a bird's-eye seascape brimming with sailing vessels, positioned directly above a cross-section displaying the warship's complex internal structure. The visual language and its relationship to science and industry come to mind. The two together— the external glory and the inner mechanisms. It feels inherently dualistic. Curator: I agree, and note that its position in history places it on the cusp of major naval developments. This work gives insight into Dutch shipbuilding prowess and maritime dominance and it serves almost as propaganda to further advance the dominance that the Dutch held on trade at that point in time. Think about where these ships sailed, the goods and, yes, unfortunately enslaved persons that these ships held. Editor: That makes me see the image in an even richer, though admittedly more unsettling context. Thinking about all the global systems connected to the ships gives even more weight to what we're viewing and seeing, while its medium suggests we might see more engravings being produced with intent and skill. Curator: Indeed. Seeing it within these many complex structures provides even more reason to stop, observe, and, hopefully, engage critically.