De Eerste Grote Vergadering, 1651 1853 - 1861

Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren created this print of the “The First Great Assembly, 1651” in the late 19th century. Van Kesteren, working in the Netherlands, looked back to the 17th century, a period of Dutch prosperity and global trade. Here, we see an assembly of men, their faces etched with expressions of intent, in a wood paneled room. As you look at this print, consider the complexities of the Dutch Golden Age. This era saw the rise of a powerful merchant class and colonialism, which dramatically reshaped global power dynamics. This assembly, undoubtedly composed of powerful men, would have influenced these policies, which would have had rippling effects. Consider whose voices are amplified in historical narratives and whose are often marginalized. What feelings arise when you reflect on how these histories continue to shape our present?