Inbinden van een olifant 1785

Jan Brandes made this drawing, 'Inbinden van een olifant', using pen, ink and watercolor on paper. Brandes was an employee of the Dutch East India Company, and this image comes from a journal he kept during his travels. This context is important: the drawing is less a fine art object than a mode of documentation. Note the relatively unskilled use of the materials – the lines are somewhat awkward, and the coloring rudimentary. Yet, the image speaks volumes about the Dutch colonial project. The elephant, a powerful symbol of the East, is here shown in captivity, with three handlers perched on its back, controlling the animal through labor. The very act of drawing here becomes an act of possession, part and parcel of the mercantile project. So, as we consider this image, let's appreciate how its simple materials and unpretentious technique nevertheless offer a window into a complex history of trade, power, and the representation of the 'Other.'