Zeilschip met wind in de zeilen 1790

Gerrit Groenewegen made this etching of a sailing ship sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century in the Netherlands. It exemplifies the Dutch Republic’s global reach through maritime power. The ship appears to be full of people, perhaps merchants or travelers, and the artist gives us a sense of their collective endeavor. The Dutch Golden Age was well known for its paintings of ships, trade, and harbor views. The institutions of art and commerce worked hand in hand. The Dutch East India Company was founded in 1602, and dominated world trade. It also commissioned artworks and its directors became some of the most important art collectors in the country. This print looks back to that moment of Dutch commercial supremacy. Historians of art and economics can delve into company archives, port records, and other shipping documents to better understand the realities behind this image.