Harbor of Naples n.d.

This is an etching of the Harbor of Naples by an anonymous artist. Though we do not know who made this print, the image offers us a glimpse into 17th century Naples. The harbor teems with ships, suggesting Naples as a vibrant hub of maritime trade and cultural exchange. Yet, this exchange had a darker side. As a major port city, Naples was deeply entangled in the complex networks of commerce, which also included the trafficking of enslaved people. Consider the lives of the countless anonymous individuals who toiled on these ships, their stories often erased from official narratives. What might their experiences tell us about the human cost of this bustling trade? "Harbor of Naples" invites us to reflect on the unseen histories that shape our understanding of place. It asks us to consider whose stories are told, whose are omitted, and how these omissions impact our understanding of the past.