Kruiden en knolgewassen op Java, 1596 1597 - 1646

This is an anonymous engraving titled 'Kruiden en knolgewassen op Java', or 'Herbs and tubers in Java', created in 1596. It is a stark reminder of the colonial gaze that shaped early European perceptions of the East Indies. The detailed depiction of plants like 'Lacca', 'Lancuar', 'Gomme Tarca maca', and 'Fagaras' in the foreground contrasts sharply with the generalized rendering of the Javanese people in the background. They are placed within the landscape, part of the exotic "spice islands" and the colonial project of resource extraction and trade. Consider the power dynamics inherent in this image: the anonymous European artist meticulously catalogs the natural resources of a land they are just beginning to exploit, while the people of Java are reduced to mere figures in the landscape. The engraving freezes a moment in time, capturing the beginning of a long history of colonial exploitation and cultural exchange. It prompts us to reflect on whose stories are told and how they are framed.