Figures & Portraits · 18th century
€ 160
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition is good with minor wear or soiling, due to handling and age. Please study the scans carefully.
This engraving, created by T. Bonnor in 1768, depicts a harrowing scene of 'women on an island in the Strait of Magellan' resisting capture or death at the hands of Dutch pirates under Olivier van Noort during his voyage in 1598. The image portrays a dramatic confrontation, as women, many with children, fight back after the Dutch sailors had already murdered their husbands.
Historical Context:
Olivier van Noort was a Dutch explorer and privateer who led one of the first Dutch circumnavigations of the globe. During his expedition, van Noort engaged in piracy, raiding various coastal settlements. This engraving likely refers to one of these violent encounters, which took place near the Strait of Magellan, the key navigational route at the southern tip of South America.
The engraving's depiction of the women fighting back highlights the brutal nature of these encounters during European exploration and piracy. The Strait of Magellan was known for its strategic importance and dangers, both from natural elements and hostile encounters between European sailors and indigenous peoples or rival groups.
Artistic and Cultural Significance:
This scene reflects the 18th-century fascination with both heroic resistance and the often violent realities of colonial encounters. The engraving was likely included in a collection documenting historical voyages or pirate activity, aimed at a European audience that consumed stories of exploration, conquest, and survival with great interest. The visual detail shows women in a state of panic and desperation, while the background suggests the presence of Dutch ships along the coastline, symbolizing the inevitability of European violence against those they encountered.
This engraving underscores the darker aspects of the European Age of Exploration, illustrating the devastating consequences of piracy and conflict in distant parts of the world.
