Dutch Screw Steamer 4th Class Bonaire 1877

Ed. Radermacher created this albumen print of the Dutch screw steamer Bonaire in 1872. In the Netherlands during this period, maritime power signified not just economic strength but national identity, harking back to the Dutch Golden Age of seafaring trade and naval dominance. This photograph captures the vessel in a moment of serene stillness, yet the ship itself embodies the industrial and colonial ambitions of the era. The Bonaire, a fourth-class screw steamer, represents the technological advancements that propelled European powers across the globe, facilitating trade, colonization, and military projection. Examining archival records, shipping manifests, and colonial documents can reveal the specific routes, cargo, and historical events associated with the Bonaire. Such research illuminates how this image is not merely a portrait of a ship but also a window into the complex social, economic, and political networks of its time.