Schepen in een storm 1784 - 1826

Jacob Ernst Marcus created this etching called ‘Ships in a Storm’, during a time when the Netherlands was a major maritime power, deeply intertwined with global trade and, of course, colonialism. The image captures ships battling against tumultuous waves and stormy skies. But I think it speaks to more than just the literal depiction of a storm. What can the experience of being at sea during this period tell us? Dutch ships crisscrossed the globe and so this image might evoke themes of exploration, danger, and the human struggle against the forces of nature. But we must also consider the economic and political context, remembering that these ships were also instruments of trade, imperialism, and the transportation of enslaved peoples. The rough seas visualized in the artwork represent the struggles, risks and vulnerabilities inherent in the human condition and the colonial project.