Het begin van de zeeslag bij Doggersbank, 1781 1784

Robbert Muys created this print depicting the beginning of the naval battle at Dogger Bank in 1781. At the heart of this piece, we find the ship—a symbol laden with historical weight. Here, the ship transcends its function as a mere vessel; it becomes a potent emblem of national pride and martial strength. Consider the symbolic weight of ships throughout history—from the ancient Egyptian funerary boats meant to carry souls to the afterlife, to the Viking longships carrying warriors to conquest. Each age imbues the ship with its own cultural significance. In Muys's print, the ship evokes the Age of Exploration, a time of both discovery and colonial expansion. The image of massed ships can stir deep, primal emotions of awe and terror, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This primal response connects us to the collective memory of naval power. So the ship motif is not merely a historical artifact, but a cyclical progression, continually resurfacing and evolving to reflect the shifting tides of history and collective memory.