Gezicht op Cádiz 1694 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge created this print, ‘Gezicht op Cádiz,’ offering us a glimpse into the bustling port city during the late 17th or early 18th century. Cádiz was a crucial hub for Spain's transatlantic trade, linking Europe to the Americas. The print captures the city's architecture, the activity on the water, and the distant shoreline, yet it also subtly reveals the complex dynamics of maritime commerce and colonialism. The ships, the people in boats – who are they? What are they trading? What are the emotional stakes? It is also a reflection of the aspirations and anxieties of a society deeply involved in global exchange. Consider how this image participates in constructing a European vision of a distant land, one that is both exoticized and commodified. This print invites us to reflect on the intertwined histories of trade, representation, and power.