Gezicht op Gaeta, 1734 1735

This is an etching of Gaeta, made in 1734 by an anonymous Dutch artist. It shows the Italian port from multiple viewpoints, each framed by illusionistic devices like torn paper and a hovering eagle. Gaeta, a strategic point in the Kingdom of Naples, would have been well known to Dutch traders and military planners. The image isn't just a neutral record. The eagle is a symbol of power, perhaps alluding to the Holy Roman Empire's influence in the region, while the multiple perspectives suggest the artist and audience's broad knowledge and mastery of the scene. Etchings like this served as a kind of early modern media, circulating information and shaping perceptions of distant places. To truly understand it, we need to consider not just the image itself, but also the economic and political interests connecting the Netherlands and Italy in the 18th century. By exploring these contexts, we discover how art actively participates in constructing our understanding of the world.