Het begin van de zeeslag bij Doggersbank, 1781 1781

Mathias de Sallieth created this print of "Het begin van de zeeslag bij Doggersbank, 1781." The composition is dominated by the ordered ranks of warships facing each other across a calm sea. The linear precision used to depict the vessels evokes a sense of impending conflict. The structure invites us to consider the binary oppositions inherent in such a confrontation. The visual coding of power and the structured opposition suggest a world ordered by naval might. The even lighting and detailed rendering of each ship remove any romanticism from the scene, focusing instead on the cold, strategic elements of naval warfare. The use of engraving as a medium reinforces the idea of meticulous planning and execution. The artwork serves not only as a historical record but also as a study in the semiotics of power, where each ship functions as a signifier of national will and military capability.