Veer horend bij een inktstel met wapen Batavia 1725 - 1750

Editor: This is "Veer horend bij een inktstel met wapen Batavia," or "Feather belonging to an ink set with the Batavia coat of arms", dating from 1725-1750. The work, a drawing done in ink on paper, feels almost…ordinary? How does an object as commonplace as a feather come to reside in the Rijksmuseum? Curator: A seemingly simple object can hold significant weight, especially when viewed through a historical lens. The presence of this feather speaks volumes about Dutch colonial power and trade routes during the 18th century. We need to think about not just what it is, but what it *represents.* Do you know what "Batavia" refers to in this context? Editor: I believe Batavia was the name given by the Dutch to present-day Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, right? Curator: Precisely! The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, established Batavia as their headquarters in Asia, extracting vast resources and wielding immense political influence. The inclusion of the Batavia coat of arms on the associated ink set, now separated, suggests the power, bureaucracy and artistry intertwined with colonialism. It transformed the act of writing – of making records and laws – into a statement of imperial reach. Who would be using this sort of luxurious object, and what would they be writing? Editor: So, it's not *just* a feather. It’s connected to themes of colonial administration and economic exploitation. Is there anything the artistic style contributes to our understanding? Curator: Yes, indeed. While rendered realistically, the drawing possesses an elegance, almost idealizing the tools of this power. What are the politics of imagery? Even seemingly neutral depictions were, and remain, implicated. This piece makes me reflect on the Dutch Golden Age and its uncomfortable legacy. Editor: I hadn’t considered that seemingly neutral depictions of objects could also carry such political baggage. I appreciate that this seemingly ordinary artifact encourages us to interrogate that relationship. Curator: Absolutely! The best art challenges us to rethink accepted narratives and explore the complexities of our shared history.