Hillegonda Louise Schellinger in Curaçao 1680

Gesina ter Borch created this watercolor titled "Hillegonda Louise Schellinger in Curaçao" sometime in the 17th century. It offers an intriguing glimpse into the Dutch colonial world and its representation. The image depicts a young Dutch girl, Hillegonda, standing in the foreground, dressed in European finery. Behind her, enslaved people are presented as diminutive background figures. Dutch ships are seen off the coast. Ter Borch was from a well-to-do family and never traveled to Curaçao. As such, the image represents a view of colonial life mediated by Dutch perceptions and fantasies. It speaks to the ways in which the Dutch imagined their presence and authority in the colonies. The scene also invokes the economic structures of that time. The exotic goods and enslaved labor underpinned the wealth and status of families such as the one in this picture. To fully understand this work, it is helpful to consult historical archives, travelogues, and studies of Dutch colonialism. These resources help us to unravel the complex layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly simple image.