Gezicht op landingsplaats te Batavia 1870 - 1890

This is Frederik Charles Theodorus Deeleman's print of the landing place in Batavia. Observe the soldiers marching, a symbol of order, power, and control in this colonial context. The procession of uniformed figures evokes a sense of relentless advance, a visual echo of historical military parades stretching back to antiquity. Consider the Roman legions or even earlier formations, each bearing the weight of empire and the subjugation of foreign lands. This image carries the same emotional and psychological force, stirring feelings of both awe and unease, as viewers confront the legacy of conquest. Yet, unlike the triumphal marches of old, here, the procession is somewhat muted, suggesting perhaps a subconscious awareness of the inherent tensions within this colonial project. The visual echoes reverberate, creating a palimpsest of power, where past and present intertwine. The procession, a recurring motif in human history, takes on new resonance as it resurfaces in the Dutch East Indies.