Tweede gevecht met de Portugese vloot bij Cabo Blanco, 1640 1645 - 1647

This print, Tweede gevecht met de Portugese vloot bij Cabo Blanco, was made in 1640 by Salomon Savery. Savery, who worked in the Netherlands, most likely made it using an etching technique on paper. The image is dominated by ships, smoke, and water. Savery skillfully manipulated line work to create the image, building up tone with tightly packed marks to describe the plumes of smoke. This allowed him to capture the chaos and energy of a naval battle, and imbue the scene with a sense of drama and immediacy. But what does it all mean? In the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, and naval battles were crucial for controlling trade routes and expanding its empire. Prints like this one were essentially propaganda, celebrating Dutch victories and bolstering national pride. By focusing on the smoke and ships, Savery reminds us that these were also floating factories of war and commerce, inextricably linked to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.