Bruiloftsstoet c. 1660

Wouter Schouten made this drawing of a wedding procession in pen and ink around the late 17th century. The artwork offers a window into the cultural practices of the time, specifically those associated with marriage rituals in the Dutch East Indies. The image creates meaning through a series of visual codes. Schouten, who served as a surgeon with the Dutch East India Company, likely made this sketch in what is now Indonesia. The presence of torches and parasols, along with the clothing of the figures, offer insights into local customs and social hierarchies of the period. We can see the ways in which the Dutch East India Company, a powerful economic and political institution, shaped cross-cultural exchange and artistic production. Historians can use archival sources, travel narratives, and studies of material culture to deepen our understanding of this work. Art serves as a testament to the complex interplay between social customs and colonial power.