Voorbereidingen voor het te water laten 1717 - 1732

Pieter van den Berge created this print, "Preparations for Launching," sometime around the late 17th to early 18th century, using etching techniques. During this era, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, with shipbuilding playing a vital role in its economy and global influence. This image portrays not just the technical feat of launching a ship, but also the social structures that enabled it. We see men laboring, their bodies aligned to push this massive vessel. The act of shipbuilding and launching was a highly gendered activity, with women largely absent from the scene, save perhaps in celebratory roles. It would be interesting to consider the labor involved and how it intersects with the colonial ambitions of the Dutch Republic. This print offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of labor, technology, and power that defined the age of exploration and commerce.