Driemaster met vlag en twee sloepen 1790

Gerrit Groenewegen created this etching, "Driemaster met vlag en twee sloepen," during a period when the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power. This small print captures the grandeur and complexity of maritime life. The detailed rendering of the ship—its rigging, sails, and flag—speaks to the technological advancements that facilitated global trade and naval dominance. Simultaneously, it gestures to the human stories of the sailors, merchants, and enslaved individuals whose lives were intertwined with these vessels. Notice the two sloops alongside the main ship, teeming with figures. Consider who these people might be and what their relationship is to the ship and its journey. The image doesn't shy away from implying the complicated narratives of labor, migration, and exploitation that defined this era. Groenewegen’s print prompts us to reflect on how maritime power was constructed and maintained, and to think critically about the human cost of that power.