Balinese muzikanten en dansers c. 1660

This gray wash drawing, "Balinese muzikanten en dansers", was made by Wouter Schouten in the late 17th or early 18th century. Schouten was a surgeon and employee of the Dutch East India Company, and this sketch depicts Balinese musicians and dancers, capturing his observations of local culture during his travels. In this image, we see the artist documenting the people and customs of Bali, yet we must remember his position as a European man in a colonial context. Schouten’s gaze carries with it the power dynamics inherent in that time. The Balinese people are presented as subjects of study, their identities filtered through the lens of a foreign observer. These observations can provide valuable historical insights, yet it is crucial to consider the potential for misrepresentation. These drawings invite us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange. Schouten's work serves as a reminder of the complicated relationship between observer and observed, colonizer and colonized, and challenges us to consider the narratives that have historically shaped our understanding of different cultures.