Deux Vaisfeaux des Indes Hollandois

Adolf van der Laan was a Dutch draughtsman, engraver, and printmaker active in Amsterdam in the early eighteenth century. This print, published by Petrus Schenk in 1722, formed part of a series depicting different types of ships. Its trilingual title — Deux Vaisfeaux des Indes Hollandois, et une petite Fregarre Hollandoise / Twee Hollandse Oost-indische Scheepen en een Hollands Fregattje / Two Dutch East indie men and a smal dutch Fregate — identifies the vessels for French-, Dutch-, and English-speaking audiences.

The print shows two Dutch East Indiamen at anchor, with a small Dutch frigate in the background. The central vessel is named Castricum. A quay with trees appears to the right, while in the foreground a jetty is occupied by spectators. A rowing boat carrying passengers and a musician moves away from the landing place, giving the scene a social and commercial character as well as a maritime one.