Allegorie op Engelse en Nederlandse kolonies 1779

This 1779 engraving by Dutch artist Simon Fokke is a complex allegory depicting the rivalry between the English and Dutch colonial empires. The central image depicts a map of the East Indies being examined by two women representing England and the Netherlands. Two cherubs, perhaps representing the colonies themselves, watch over them. The image is rich in symbolism, with various objects and figures representing different aspects of the colonial conflict, such as trade, religion, and cultural exchange. Fokke's engraving, held in the Rijksmuseum, serves as a historical document reflecting the political and economic tensions of the late 18th century.