Vaart van Ellert Viscarn in een schuitje van koehuiden van Hoorn naar Danzig, 1558 1704 - 1706

Romeyn de Hooghe created this etching, “Vaart van Ellert Viscarn in een schuitje van koehuiden van Hoorn naar Danzig, 1558,” sometime between 1660 and 1708. It depicts Ellert Viscarn’s legendary voyage from Hoorn to Danzig in a boat made of cowhides. De Hooghe made this print in the Netherlands, a maritime nation deeply invested in its cultural identity. The image plays into this identity, mythologizing maritime exploration. However, it also presents a critical commentary. Viscarn’s journey, though celebrated, was undoubtedly perilous. De Hooghe highlights this risk through the rough seas and fragile vessel. The print also reflects the 17th-century Dutch fascination with folklore and legend. This interest, cultivated by institutions like historical societies and museums, provided a sense of national pride during a time of immense social and political change. To further understand the print, historians often consult period documents, maritime records, and folklore collections. By situating the work within its cultural and institutional context, we can better understand its complex layers of meaning.