Pepper from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Witte Leeuw before 1613

This is pepper recovered from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Witte Leeuw. The original arrangement is unknown, but here it has been artfully arranged on a surface to create a visually arresting tableau. Consider how the composition works: a dense mound of peppercorns, the individual spheres massing together to form a larger, irregular pyramid shape. The texture is granular and slightly rough, reflecting the imperfect nature of the individual grains. A play of light and shadow subtly defines the volume, giving it depth and presence, while the peppercorns scattered around the mound create a sense of dispersion. The inherent value in this image comes from the pepper. This humble spice was once so precious it fuelled global trade and colonial expansion. Here, the formal arrangement invites reflection on the power dynamics, desire, and exploitation embedded within the seemingly simple arrangement of organic material.