Gezichten op het gouvernementsgebouw en de markt van Batavia 1779

Mathias de Sallieth created this print showing scenes in Batavia, now Jakarta, using an etching technique. These scenes are visual codes, offering us insights into the Dutch East India Company's colonial presence in the late 18th century. In the upper scene, we see the Gouvernementsgebouw, the seat of Dutch power, and a bustling bridge, a key element in the city's infrastructure. The lower scene depicts the marketplace, with a mix of Europeans and local inhabitants. This hints at the complex social hierarchy of the time. Batavia’s geography as a port city was crucial to its economic and political role. As historians, we might turn to archival records of the Dutch East India Company, travelogues, and other visual sources, like maps and plans of the city. It’s through these sources that we can contextualize an image like this, revealing its significance within a particular social and institutional framework.