Verschillende voorstellingen c. 1828 - 1913

Erve Wijsmuller created this undated print with etching, showing various scenes. The scenes presented here hint at some of the major social and cultural tensions of the time. The most striking aspect is perhaps the contrast between images of local Dutch life and imagery related to colonialism, which speaks to the Netherlands' economic and political investments abroad. By juxtaposing images of Dutch buildings alongside images of colonial life, Wijsmuller seems to ask the viewer to compare and contrast these different worlds. These references speak to the complex and often contradictory nature of Dutch society at this time, and prompt the viewer to consider the relationship between local and global concerns, and the social conditions that shape the production and reception of art. To understand this piece better, one might research the history of Dutch colonialism during this period or examine popular imagery of colonial life in the Netherlands. Such research emphasizes that the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.