Zittende Oosterling met palmtak in de linkerhand 1639 - 1706

Pieter Rottermondt created this print of a seated oriental man holding a palm branch, with etching, sometime before his death in 1706. The term "Oosterling," or "Oriental," reflects the fascination and often skewed perceptions Europeans held towards people from the East. In the context of 17th-century Dutch culture, this image speaks to the burgeoning trade routes and colonial aspirations of the Dutch East India Company. The palm branch, a symbol of peace or victory, may allude to the complex relationships between the Netherlands and the East. Rottermondt's choice of subject matter highlights the cultural exchange—or perhaps cultural appropriation—prevalent during this era. To fully understand this print, we need to examine historical records of Dutch-Asian interactions, travelogues, and other visual representations of "oriental" figures. By researching the economic and political contexts, we can better understand how this image participated in the construction of cultural identities and power dynamics.