Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Oost-Indisch Huis te Amsterdam c. 1770 - 1783

Hermanus Petrus Schouten created this print of the courtyard of the Dutch East India Company building in Amsterdam. Notice how the building is depicted with a focus on its architectural structure. The geometric precision in the lines and the symmetrical arrangement of windows and doors create a sense of order and stability. The print invites us to consider the relationship between representation and power. The building's design, with its clear, rational layout, embodies the values of the Dutch East India Company. Schouten's meticulous rendering suggests an attempt to solidify the Company's image through the formal qualities of architectural depiction. The building is depicted as a testament to Dutch ambition and global reach. Reflect on how the building’s representation functions as a statement of cultural and economic dominance.