De haveningang van Willemstad met het Gouvernementspaleis 1858

Here we see the entrance to Willemstad harbor with the Governor's Palace, painted by Prosper Crébassol using oil on canvas. The composition divides into distinct horizontal layers: the stone foreground, the open plaza, and the buildings and sea fading into a light blue sky. Crébassol's use of space and perspective seems to flatten the scene. The muted colors and careful arrangement of elements create a sense of order and control, reflecting the colonial governance of the island. The geometric regularity of the architecture and the measured rhythm of the arcades contrast with the implied freedom of the open sea. In semiotic terms, the flag serves as a clear signifier of colonial power, while the boats represent trade and connection. Consider how Crébassol's formal choices—the flatness, the muted palette, the rigid structure—operate within the discourse of colonial representation, inviting us to question the construction of this seemingly objective depiction.