Turkse galei op zee 1603 - 1658

This etching of a Turkish galley at sea was created by Abraham Casembroot, an artist from the Netherlands who died in 1658. This image visualizes a concept: the Ottoman Empire as a maritime power. In the 17th century, Dutch artists often depicted foreign cultures and societies. These images are often less about accurate portrayal and more about how Dutch society viewed these cultures. Here, the Turkish galley, a symbol of Ottoman naval strength, is shown in detail, and the print may have served to inform and perhaps even warn the Dutch public about the maritime capabilities of the Ottoman Empire. The figures in the foreground, possibly Dutch onlookers, add a layer of observation and interaction, emphasizing the Dutch perspective. Understanding this work fully requires us to delve into the historical context of Dutch-Ottoman relations and the Dutch Republic's view of the wider world. By exploring period documents and studies of Dutch maritime history, we can better understand the narratives this image was meant to convey.