Schrijfkabinet van Gouverneur Janssens c. 1802 - 1806

This writing cabinet, of unknown date and authorship, is made of inlaid wood. Its graphic nature hints at the complex layering of the Dutch colonial project. Cabinets like these weren’t just furniture; they were statements of power and sophistication. As a governor's writing desk, this object would have been at the heart of colonial administration, managing trade, laws, and interactions with local populations. Each drawer and compartment held the potential for both creativity and control, reflecting the governor’s dual role as an administrator and a figure of cultural influence. The black and white illustrations that decorate the piece create a stark contrast, which mirrors the power dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized. These images, depicting landscapes and scenes of daily life, romanticize a world that was built on exploitation. The cabinet, therefore, isn’t just a storage unit. It's a symbol of a specific moment in history, filled with cultural exchange and injustice.