Voltooiing van de sluizen te Katwijk 1807, afdruk in karton 1807

This is a cardboard print made in 1807 by Jean-Pierre Droz, commemorating the completion of the sluices at Katwijk. These sluices were a major hydraulic engineering project in the Netherlands. As such, this print highlights the public role of such monumental engineering. On one side, we see a figure, perhaps a personification of the Netherlands, celebrating this achievement. The reverse depicts the sluices themselves, emphasizing their architectural and functional significance. Made during a period of French influence in the Netherlands, this artwork likely reflects the socio-political context of the time. Hydraulic engineering was crucial for the Dutch, shaping their economy, geography, and national identity. Understanding this artwork requires exploring sources such as historical records about the project, engineering treatises, and period accounts of public celebrations. The print then becomes an artifact of cultural and institutional history, revealing the values and priorities of its time.