Portret van Salomon Dedel 1782

Reinier Vinkeles created this print of Salomon Dedel, a captain at sea, most likely in the Netherlands, around the late 18th century. Dedel is framed in a circle, the naval armament decorating a plinth below. Prints like these gained popularity in the Dutch Republic as symbols of civic identity, and pride. The Dutch Golden Age was a high point of maritime power, but by this time, the country was falling behind England, and France. Portraiture of prominent sea captains reminded people of former glories, but also suggested the importance of the navy for the nation’s future. What does it mean to create art that is also propaganda? In this period, the creation and control of imagery was often linked to political power. Prints and portraits can tell us a lot about how a culture sees itself, and what kind of values its institutions are trying to promote. For further reading, look to Dutch naval records to see how individuals were promoted through public life.