Korvet Z.M. Urania en linieschip Z.M. Kortenaert 1851 - 1880

Gerard Voorduin made this print of the Korvet Z.M. Urania en linieschip Z.M. Kortenaer, but the date of its creation is unknown. Look closely, and you’ll notice the printmaking technique that Voorduin employed here: lithography. This process allows the artist to create an image on a flat stone or metal plate using a greasy medium, and then transfer it to paper. The resulting image has a distinctive texture and quality of line. But the real subject here is not so much the print itself as what it depicts: two warships, formidable symbols of naval power. Consider the labor and resources required to construct these vessels. From the felling of trees for timber, to the forging of iron for cannons, each ship represents a massive investment of human effort and material wealth. And let’s not forget the social context in which these ships were built and deployed. They were instruments of trade, empire, and geopolitical competition. This print invites us to consider the complex relationship between art, technology, and society.