Fort Hammenhiel (Hummenil) te Ceylon, gezien van zee c. 1710

Cornelis Steiger made this drawing of Fort Hammenhiel in Ceylon, today’s Sri Lanka. What exactly is this image communicating? Is it just an innocent landscape? I doubt it. The fort itself, squat and imposing, dominates the composition. The calm sea and scattered boats suggest a well-guarded trade route, essential for the Dutch East India Company's control over the region. We can see how geographic features were strategically exploited for military advantage. This image creates meaning through such visual codes. The drawing can also be seen as a form of institutional self-regard. The Dutch East India Company was keen to catalogue and communicate its power and influence across the globe. The artist plays a crucial role in this, framing Ceylon as a territory under European dominion. To truly understand such an image, we need to delve into the archives, examining trade records, colonial documents, and the personal accounts of those who lived through this period. By looking at the social conditions that shaped its production, we can properly understand the politics of this imagery.