Gevecht tussen Hoekerschip Vrouw Machtelyna en Engels fregat Diamant voor de haven van Curaçao, 1782 1782

Carel Frederik Bendorp's print depicts a naval battle off Curaçao in 1782, rendered with fine lines on paper. The printmaking process—likely etching or engraving— allowed for detailed depiction of the ships, water, and smoke. Consider the context: ships of this era were complex machines, built by skilled labor from timber, canvas, rope, and iron. Each material speaks to global trade networks, as these ships moved not only goods but also people. As we look closely, we can see the labor involved in maintaining and operating these vessels, both sites of commerce and violent conflict. The labor of sailors, carpenters, and gunners made these floating engines of war possible. Bendorp's print makes these ships, and the naval battle, into a commodity, bought and sold on the art market. This speaks to a modern tension: can an image of conflict ever be separated from its wider social and economic context?