Zeilende driemaster met op de achtergrond een vuurtoren en zeilschepen 1610 - 1665

Curator: Oh, this print really takes me back to my childhood! It’s titled “Zeilende driemaster met op de achtergrond een vuurtoren en zeilschepen,” or “Sailing three-master with a lighthouse and sailing ships in the background," by Salomon Savery. It comes to us from the Dutch Golden Age, dating from around 1610 to 1665. What catches your eye? Editor: The ship looks so powerful, yet there's a vulnerability, perhaps because we see the scene only in a single hue? Curator: Precisely! Dutch maritime power wasn't just about commerce; it involved navigation, mapping, and unfortunately, participation in the transatlantic slave trade. Editor: The single-color engraving, devoid of depth, emphasizes the sea, as if the emptiness it embodies suggests a collective dread. Curator: This depiction invites questions about global economies and social justice. In an era defined by expanding trade routes, Dutch society profited from the exploitation of other cultures. Editor: So, is it that sense of "discovery" against something as grim as exploitation of resources, and sadly, of human beings. In some way it gives context to the whole picture and the Dutch Golden Age itself. Curator: Exactly. It compels us to investigate the full story and think critically about how these realities are presented through art, and whom it excludes or exploits, and, crucially, to what degree. Editor: Thinking about the relationship between sea, commerce, and what we perceive is a grim, silent image makes me realize the power of symbols—especially how our vision fills in so many blanks. Curator: Ultimately, that tension invites contemplation and, hopefully, a step towards greater equity. Thank you for your thoughts! Editor: Thank you! Thinking through a picture like this always opens my eyes in a fresh, strange, and evocative way.