Vernietiging van het Egyptische leger in de Rode Zee 1728

Gilliam van der Gouwen created this engraving depicting the destruction of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. The image captures a pivotal moment from the Book of Exodus, laden with religious and political undertones. Produced in the Netherlands around 1700, the print reflects the cultural and religious climate of the time. The Dutch Republic, having won independence from Spain, identified with the Israelites' struggle for freedom. The image would have resonated with a society deeply invested in its own narrative of liberation and divine favor. The engraving's dramatic visual codes, such as the chaotic scene of drowning soldiers and the triumphant Israelites, would have powerfully conveyed the idea of divine intervention in human affairs. Historical research into Dutch religious and political thought can shed light on the engraving's contemporary reception and interpretation. The meaning of this kind of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.