Fregat met stoomvermogen Hr. Ms. Johan Willem Friso op zee 1890 - 1903

Willem Frederik Boelsums captured this image of the Fregat met stoomvermogen Hr. Ms. Johan Willem Friso op zee using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. Boelsums made this photograph during a period of rapid industrialization and naval expansion. The ship itself, a symbol of Dutch maritime power, reflects the nation's colonial ambitions and trade interests, especially in relation to the Dutch East Indies. This maritime power was largely built on the backs of enslaved people. The photograph invites reflection on the relationship between technological advancement, national identity, and colonial history. As viewers, we are asked to consider the human cost of progress, and the legacies of colonialism that continue to shape our world today.