De Tocht naar Chatham en de verovering van de Royal Charles, 1667 1818 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this print of ‘The Expedition to Chatham and the Capture of the Royal Charles, 1667’ using etching and burin. The image commemorates a celebrated moment in Dutch history, yet it was made long after the event. Consider the politics of this imagery. This print wasn't made in a vacuum. Last was working within a 19th-century Dutch artistic and cultural landscape increasingly focused on national identity and historical pride. The print taps into that sentiment, reminding viewers of a time when the Dutch Republic stood as a major naval power. The print highlights the social conditions that shape artistic production. Institutions like the Rijksmuseum, where this artwork now resides, played a role in preserving and promoting such nationalistic narratives through art. The event itself, the raid on Medway, was shocking, it exposed vulnerabilities in the English naval defenses. To truly understand this print, we need to delve into the historical context of the Anglo-Dutch Wars, exploring pamphlets, naval records, and diplomatic correspondence. This is how historians uncover the meanings embedded in art.