Sargassowier en trombas, 1597 1597 - 1646

This is an anonymous engraving from 1597, showing sargassum seaweed and waterspouts. The image encapsulates the mindset of 16th-century maritime exploration, where scientific observation mingled with fear and wonder. In the foreground, the sargassum and waterspouts are labelled, suggesting a documentary purpose. Yet, the scene is also imbued with a sense of the unknown: the ominous waterspouts resemble a monstrous sea creature, and the ships appear vulnerable against the vast ocean. Made in the Netherlands, this print reflects the country’s burgeoning sea power and the accompanying anxieties about the perils of oceanic voyages. The imagery creates meaning through a combination of visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Ultimately, as historians, we interpret this image using a range of resources – ship logs, scientific treatises, and popular literature – to understand the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and the sea in the early modern world. By considering the institutional context, we can explore how art mediates the human experience of an expanding world.