Gezicht op dorp Vlaardingen te Makassar 1824

This is an etching by Quirijn Maurits Rudolf Ver Huell depicting a view of the village of Vlaardingen in Makassar. Prominently displayed, we see a palm tree, a symbol of the exotic tropics, standing tall amidst the landscape, and a colonial flag fluttering atop a fortress. The palm tree, throughout history, has been a signifier of paradise, of rest and refuge. It evokes a sense of the exotic, a dream of far-off lands. But here, its presence is juxtaposed with the colonial flag, a stark reminder of dominance and power. These flags, symbols of colonial ambition, were planted to assert authority and mark territories. Think back to Roman standards or medieval banners, all proclaiming "This land is ours." The collective memory of these symbols triggers deep-seated psychological responses; feelings of awe, perhaps, but also of subjugation. The image becomes a stage where the dream of paradise meets the reality of colonial power, engaging viewers in a dialogue about desire, control, and the ever-shifting meanings we ascribe to the world around us.