In 't Jaar 1781 c. 1789 - 1810

This anonymous drawing, 'In 't Jaar 1781', captures a naval battle, likely rendered in the same year. In 1781, The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War was underway, a conflict largely remembered today for the damage it did to the Dutch economy and global standing. What we see in this image is not only a fight for maritime dominance but a visual representation of a shifting world order, a struggle over wealth, power, and the very identity of nations. The scene depicts towering ships amidst a tempest of smoke and waves. What does it mean to see the ships of one's nation in such a vulnerable state? Does it evoke a sense of national pride, or a profound sense of loss and anxiety? As you consider this small but intense artwork, consider how conflicts over land and resources often hinge on the ability to control the seas, and the human cost of these battles.