Madril / Mexico / Svratte / Moscua / Batavia / Ormus 1670 - 1672

This undated print by an anonymous artist features cityscapes made using copper engraving. The bird’s-eye view of six cities, namely Madrid, Moscow, Mexico City, Jakarta (then Batavia), and Hormuz, suggests the expanding world of the 17th-century Dutch Republic. These cities were centers of global trade networks, reflecting the economic and political reach of the Dutch during their Golden Age. Each view celebrates the mercantile power of the Dutch by showcasing a distant land, while the ornamental frame and Latin captions add an air of authority to the images. The print was made in Amsterdam, and we know from the inscription it was published by Frederick de Wit. Careful historical research into archival records, trade statistics, and cartographic history is needed to better understand the social conditions that shaped the print’s production. It’s a fascinating reminder of how art and cartography are contingent on social and institutional contexts.