Naues Mercatoriæ Hollandicæ per Indias Occidentales (Dutch East Indiaman) 1647

Wenceslaus Hollar created this engraving of Dutch East Indiamen, ships used for trade with the West Indies. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, dominating international commerce. Hollar’s detailed depiction of these vessels speaks to the wealth and power that this trade generated, but the ships also symbolize a more troubling history. They were instrumental in the transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Notice the contrast between the imposing size of the ships and the small figures on the deck. These details remind us of the human cost behind these grand vessels, the countless lives subjected to forced labor, exploitation, and violence. By acknowledging these difficult histories, we can better understand the complexities of our shared past.