Riviergezicht met zeilschepen 1685

Coenraet Decker created this etching of a river scene with sailing ships in the Netherlands during the latter half of the 17th century. This work offers a glimpse into the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by burgeoning maritime trade and colonial expansion, which brought prosperity for some, but also the exploitation of others through global trade networks. The inscription, "...that the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures," alludes to the biblical creation narrative, yet it also evokes the bustling activity of the river, filled with sailing ships that were the lifeblood of the Dutch economy. These ships were instrumental in global trade, carrying goods and, tragically, enslaved people, across oceans. Decker's river scene, therefore, is not just a picturesque landscape but a complex tableau reflecting the social and economic realities of his time. It invites us to consider the human cost of the era's prosperity. How do we reconcile the aesthetic beauty of this image with the harsh realities of Dutch colonial history?