Admiraal Michiel de Ruyter raakt tijdens de zeeslag bij Agosta dodelijk gewond 1840 - 1850

This print at the Rijksmuseum depicts Admiral Michiel de Ruyter fatally wounded during the sea battle at Agosta and was made by the Van Lier brothers. The somber scene is structured by a series of vertical forms, which reinforce the drama of the moment. The composition’s success lies in how it uses this formal structure to engage with ideas around leadership and sacrifice. De Ruyter is visually centered, surrounded by figures whose reactions range from shock to despair. The stark contrast in light and shadow intensifies the emotional weight, drawing our eyes to the focal point of the Admiral. The composition also utilizes the dark and light shading to suggest a deeper metaphorical reading. It represents not just a historical event, but also the play of political and cultural forces through which notions of heroism and national identity are constructed. Note how the print’s formal elements—the stark shading, the arrangement of figures, and the use of perspective—function to build meaning beyond the literal representation. The artwork becomes a site where history, ideology, and visual language intersect.