Caapse trekos Possibly 1786

Editor: This drawing, titled "Caapse trekos," is possibly from 1786 and created by Jan Brandes. It looks like a realistic study of an ox, rendered in pencil, pen, and maybe watercolor. What immediately strikes me is its quietness and the rather slender build of the ox. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image invites us to consider the context of colonialism and scientific exploration. Brandes, likely traveling with the Dutch East India Company, was creating a record. The ox, a symbol of labor and a resource, is meticulously documented, almost objectified. Note the way light and shadow define its form, stripping it of its inherent being, becoming something more, that which can be catalogued and commodified. Editor: Commodification. That makes me consider the indigenous relationship to animals differently. The collar, that's also part of the commodification you're referring to? Curator: Precisely. The collar isn't merely functional; it signifies ownership, control, and the disruption of traditional practices surrounding land use and animal husbandry. Think of the labor and trade connected to the Dutch East India Company, built on similar exploitation of both natural and human resources. This is, in a sense, a portrait of colonial ambition, thinly veiled as scientific observation. Editor: I never considered art's function in promoting and documenting colonial pursuits in that way. Thank you for making that visible! Curator: Understanding the relationship between art, history, and power is vital for critically engaging with the past and present. Colonialism is not bygone history; its effects echo today, informing global structures and shaping our relationship with the natural world.