Gouden beker met deksel, geschonken aan Michiel de Ruyter ter gelegenheid van de Tocht naar Chatham, 1667 1870 - 1894

This is an etching by jonkheer Barthold Willem Floris van Riemsdijk, created to represent a golden cup with a lid, which was gifted to Michiel de Ruyter to celebrate the Raid on the Medway in 1667. This cup embodies the Dutch Golden Age, a period of unprecedented wealth and cultural achievement, built on maritime power and colonial exploitation. Michiel de Ruyter, as a celebrated admiral, was a key figure in this expansion, symbolizing Dutch power and prowess on the seas. But what stories are left untold? Who were the nameless laborers and enslaved peoples whose exploitation fueled this wealth and enabled such grand displays of gratitude? What did it cost them? This image of the golden cup invites us to reflect on the complexities of historical narratives and the importance of considering multiple perspectives, ensuring that we recognize both the celebrated achievements and the submerged histories of inequality and oppression.