Franse vertaling van de uitleg van het schilderij c. 1930 - 1980

This is a French translation of an explanation of a painting, written in 1887. The author is Vice Admiral Frederik Lambertus Geerling, who was the artist’s great uncle, and former Minister of the Royal Navy of the Netherlands. The text describes a scene from the war against the Chinese Thay-Kong of Montrado on the west coast of Borneo. Geerling recounts his experience as commander of the warship Celebes, detailing a military expedition against Montrado. He vividly recalls navigating the river, battling the Chinese, and ultimately breaking through their defensive chain. This document serves as a historical record, but also provides a personal and emotional perspective on a colonial military campaign. It speaks to themes of power and conflict, and reflects the complicated relationships between colonizers and colonized populations. The handwritten note adds an intimate layer to the grand narrative of war and conquest.