Schipbreuk van spiegelretourschip Hasewell 1786

Robert Pollard created this print, "Schipbreuk van spiegelretourschip Hasewell", depicting the harrowing shipwreck of the Halsewell East Indiaman. The disaster, which occurred in 1786, became a powerful symbol of human struggle against the forces of nature. The print captures the emotional intensity of the event, portraying the class divisions inherent in such a tragedy. We see women, likely passengers of higher social standing, clustered together, their vulnerability exposed. The captain raises his hand, an appeal to a higher power in a moment of crisis. Consider how the narrative focuses on the plight of the European passengers, while the experiences and potential loss of life among the ship's crew and any enslaved individuals are marginalized in the visual representation. "Schipbreuk van spiegelretourschip Hasewell" invites us to reflect on the selective empathy often present in historical narratives and to consider the voices and experiences that are often left out of the dominant story.