Portrait of Jacques Specx, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies 1629 - 1675

This is an anonymous portrait of Jacques Specx, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. Portraits like this one offer a glimpse into the lives of powerful figures during the era of Dutch colonial expansion. Specx, as Governor-General, was central to the operations of the Dutch East India Company, a commercial enterprise that wielded immense power. But who was the artist, and what can we say about their identity? Was it a Dutch artist, or a local Indonesian painter? The anonymity invites us to consider the imbalances of power inherent in the colonial relationship. The portrait provides a window into the history of trade, cultural exchange, and the complex legacies of colonialism. It invites reflection on the human costs of empire.