Een zeeslag, mogelijk bij Lowestoft op 13 juni 1665 (linkerblad) 1665

Jan Abrahamsz. Beerstraten created this drawing of a naval battle, possibly near Lowestoft, in 1665. The drawing depicts the chaos and intensity of naval warfare during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. It reflects the Dutch Republic's maritime power and its ongoing struggle with England for control of the seas, crucial for trade and colonial expansion. Produced in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age, this drawing is influenced by the country's economic and political ambitions. The sea was a theatre of power and wealth. The Dutch invested heavily in their navy and maritime infrastructure. Images of naval battles like this one served a public function: they were a source of patriotic pride and a means of promoting the Republic's military achievements. Studying archival material on the Anglo-Dutch Wars can help us understand the context of the work and the way it was perceived by contemporaries.