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

This is an etching by Barthold Willem Floris van Riemsdijk, depicting a gold cup and lid gifted to Michiel de Ruyter in 1667, commemorating the Raid on the Medway. The composition is dominated by the cup's symmetrical structure, a stark yet elegant form emerging from the detailed etching work. The eye is drawn to the narrative frieze encircling the cup's body, a miniature maritime scene brought to life through meticulously rendered lines that capture the essence of naval engagement. The etching technique itself—the delicate cross-hatching and varied line weights—imbues the image with a tactile quality, as if one could trace the contours of the cup with their fingertips. The print destabilizes the traditional function of commemorative art by focusing on the object, thus becoming a symbolic representation of the event and a meditation on how objects embody history. Ultimately, the print prompts us to consider how form and object intersect with memory and meaning.