Gezicht uit de gallerij van een Oost-Indiëvaarder Possibly 1778 - 1787

Jan Brandes created this pencil drawing titled 'View from the Gallery of an East Indiaman' sometime between 1743 and 1808. Brandes was a clergyman, artist and traveler for the Dutch East India Company and the drawing likely captures a scene he witnessed firsthand. At first glance, the image evokes a sense of adventure, yet the ship also represents a complex network of trade, colonialism, and cultural exchange. As Brandes sketches the ship with its sails and rigging, we are reminded of the human cost of such voyages. These ships facilitated the exploitation of resources, the enslavement of people, and the imposition of Western power. Brandes' perspective, from within the ship, suggests a position of privilege and complicity, yet his sketch also offers a glimpse into the daily life aboard these vessels. What stories could this ship tell if it could talk? Ultimately, the drawing serves as a poignant reminder of the intertwined histories of exploration, exploitation, and cultural encounter.