Filips II vertrekt per schip naar Spanje, 1559 1782 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this etching titled "Filips II vertrekt per schip naar Spanje, 1559," sometime between his birth in 1712 and death in 1784. Observe how the composition divides into distinct zones. On the left, a structured wooden pier juts into turbulent waters, contrasting with the chaotic scene on the right, where ships dominate the horizon amidst cannon smoke. Fokke masterfully uses line and texture to distinguish between the solid, static architecture and the dynamic, unpredictable sea. Note how the artist has built a semiotic framework. Each element—the ladder, the ships, and even the smoke—serves as a signifier, pointing to broader themes of departure, conflict, and power. It prompts us to reconsider how historical events are represented and understood.