Portret van Johan Maurits, graaf van Nassau-Siegen 1625 - 1699

This is an engraving of Johan Maurits, Count of Nassau-Siegen, created by an anonymous artist. It offers a glimpse into the Dutch colonial era and its visual rhetoric. Johan Maurits was governor-general of Dutch Brazil in the 17th century, a period marked by the exploitation of Brazilian resources and the enslavement of its indigenous and African populations. This portrait, with its formal composition, presents Maurits as a figure of authority and sophistication. Yet, it obscures the violence and injustice upon which his power was built. The engraving participates in constructing and upholding a narrative of European dominance. It is a reminder of how images can legitimize and normalize unequal power dynamics. The work asks us to consider the ethics of representation and the role of art in shaping historical memory. It speaks to the complicated legacies of colonialism and its enduring effects on identity, culture, and social justice.