Havengezicht met zeilschepen, op de voorgrond mannen voor een loggia 1640 - 1724

Johann Wilhelm Baur created this print, "Harbor View with Sailing Ships, in the Foreground Men in Front of a Loggia," in the 17th century using etching. It encapsulates the cultural and economic landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. We see figures gathered on a grand loggia overlooking a bustling harbor scene. The ships represent trade and exploration, cornerstones of Dutch prosperity and expansion, but also colonialism and its discontents. The setting suggests a society where maritime activity shapes daily life and fortunes. Consider the stories of those who never appear in such idyllic scenes – the sailors, the enslaved, and the indigenous populations impacted by Dutch trade routes. This contrast makes us think about the power dynamics and the human cost of economic success. This harbor view then becomes a meditation on how wealth and beauty often obscure complex, and sometimes troubling, histories.