Batavisch avondgezelschap Possibly 1779 - 1788

This monochromatic drawing was made by Jan Brandes around the turn of the 19th century, using graphite and ink on paper. The quick, informal strokes of the artist’s hand are plainly visible, suggesting the immediacy of the depicted scene: a group of Dutch men, presumably members of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC, enjoying an evening together, waited on by servants. The artist’s hand renders this social situation as a matter-of-fact record of the Dutch colonial presence. The stark contrast in the scene represents the sharp division of labor and class in the Dutch East Indies. This visual record, created with simple tools, shows that even in casual drawings, choices of materials and marks can reveal deeper social and political contexts. By considering the labor implied in the scene and the process of its creation, we begin to understand the full meaning of the artwork.