Zeeslag bij Duins (rechterplaat), 1639 1651 - 1674

This engraving depicts the Battle of the Downs, fought on October 21, 1639, during the Eighty Years' War, where the Dutch fleet decisively defeated the Spanish. In the 17th century, naval power was deeply entwined with national identity, trade, and colonial expansion. The clash of these ships isn't just about military tactics; it's a violent assertion of economic and political dominance. What is not seen in this representation, is who was on these ships: The bodies of enslaved and paid sailors, soldiers and tradesmen. Each one with their own story and the loss of their lives. The chaos of battle, the smoke, the wreckage, all speak to the immense human cost of these conflicts. Images like these helped shape a narrative of Dutch maritime supremacy. But what are the personal narratives lost in these depictions of national glory? This battle reminds us of the complex layers of power, identity, and sacrifice that are embedded in our histories.