Gezicht op de kust van Groot-Atjeh, met voor de kust de vloot van de Eerste Atjeh-expeditie, eerste deel 1873

This print by C.A. Whitten depicts the coastline of Great Aceh, with the fleet of the First Aceh Expedition in the foreground. The image creates meaning through its depiction of Dutch colonial power in the region we now know as Indonesia. The Aceh War, from 1873 to 1904, was one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts in Dutch colonial history. The print offers a view of the landscape as it would have been seen by the colonizing forces, giving a sense of the scale of the expedition and the geographical challenges faced by the Dutch. The presence of the fleet suggests a display of military might, aimed at asserting control over the region. The First Aceh Expedition, in particular, was a key moment in this conflict, marking the beginning of a long and arduous campaign for the Dutch. Understanding the social and institutional context of this image requires looking into the archives of the Dutch East India Company. The image embodies a moment of social and political conflict, with the artist acting as a chronicler of colonial expansion.