Allegorie op de West-Indische en Oost-Indische Compagnie 1726

This allegorical engraving by Bernard Picart, titled "Allegorie op de West-Indische en Oost-Indische Compagnie" (Allegory of the West Indies and East Indies Companies), depicts the prosperity and influence of the Dutch trading companies in the 18th century. The scene is set in a tropical landscape with ships sailing in the distance, referencing the lucrative trade routes of the Dutch East India Company and West India Company. A central figure, likely representing the Netherlands, sits atop a plinth adorned with the company emblems and surrounded by figures symbolizing the wealth and resources brought back from the colonies. The engraving, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a powerful testament to the Dutch Golden Age and the global reach of its maritime empires.