Verbranden van de Nederlandse vloot bij Tobago 1677

This is a medal by the artist known as Monogrammist R, commemorating the burning of the Dutch fleet at Tobago. The event took place during the Franco-Dutch War, a conflict deeply rooted in economic and colonial competition. The medal portrays Louis XIV, King of France, a figure of absolute power during a time of significant social stratification. France's colonial ambitions were a key aspect of his reign. On the reverse, we see a symbolic representation of victory with the destruction of enemy ships. Consider the power dynamics represented here. The medal serves as propaganda, celebrating French dominance and diminishing the Dutch. It invites reflection on the human cost of such conflicts, especially for the colonized populations whose lives and lands were at stake. As a symbol of triumph, it also embodies a complex history of exploitation, power, and identity.