Rijkversierd Engels (?) fregat (linkerblad) Possibly 1621 - 1707

Editor: This pen and ink drawing, "Rijkversierd Engels (?) fregat (linkerblad)" by Willem van de Velde I, probably made between 1621 and 1707, features the detailed side of what appears to be a richly adorned English frigate. I’m immediately struck by the ship's imposing weaponry; the rows of cannons create such a powerful image. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: What I see is a meticulous rendering that, despite its seeming objectivity, hints at the deeply intertwined relationship between maritime power, colonialism, and trade during the Dutch Golden Age. Look closely at the detail – the cannons, the rigging. These aren't just elements of a ship; they are tools of empire, projecting European power across the globe. What does the ship *represent* beyond transportation? Editor: I hadn't really thought about it that way. I guess the cannons represent force and domination? The ship allowed for that expansion of power and control? Curator: Precisely. Consider the labor that built this vessel. Where did the wood come from? Who were the sailors manning these cannons? This drawing becomes a portal through which we can interrogate the narratives of globalization, slavery, and resource extraction that shaped the early modern world. How do you see this image in dialogue with current issues of trade and global ethics? Editor: I suppose we tend to overlook those issues. Today it's container ships, maybe, and global supply chains that are exploitative of people and resources. I guess some things never really change, just take new forms. Curator: Exactly. By critically examining historical depictions like this, we can gain a better understanding of the long-standing power dynamics that continue to shape our present. This sketch, then, serves as a crucial document in tracing the complex history of global interaction and inequality. Editor: Thanks, I will definitely look at these types of images differently moving forward.