Gezicht op de Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart op de hoek van de Prins Hendrikkade en de Schippersgracht c. 1860 - 1900

Editor: So this is a gelatin-silver print, probably taken between 1860 and 1900, by Andries Jager. It’s titled "Gezicht op de Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart op de hoek van de Prins Hendrikkade en de Schippersgracht"—a view of the nautical college. It feels like a very still, formal portrait of a city. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: Beyond its aesthetic qualities, I see a loaded document rooted in maritime power and trade. The very architecture, this imposing building and the ships, they aren’t just about commerce; they speak to colonial ambitions and the dominance of the Dutch East India Company during that era. What does this image tell us about who was taught and trained here and to what end? Editor: So, you see it as an image that reveals the underpinnings of Dutch imperialism at the time? Curator: Exactly. And it pushes me to consider labour—who built these ships, and whose knowledge was erased or exploited to further nautical advancements? The photograph becomes a lens through which we can question systems of power, examining whose stories are prioritized, and who remains on the margins. It prompts essential discourse about representation. Does the framing contribute to that power dynamic, for example? Editor: That makes me rethink the calm mood I initially perceived. It's less about quiet beauty and more about the structures supporting a certain kind of authority. Curator: Precisely. And that’s why viewing art through a contemporary lens is crucial. We must interrogate the past and challenge existing power structures reflected in visual culture. Editor: That's a really important consideration; thank you for sharing that perspective! It encourages me to look past face value and question the embedded narratives in what I'm seeing. Curator: Indeed. It encourages us all to keep challenging dominant perspectives.