Krijgers en een man met een musket c. 1660

Wouter Schouten made this sketch of warriors with pen in the late 17th century in the Netherlands. Schouten was a surgeon in the Dutch East India Company and traveled extensively in the East Indies for 7 years. Here, Schouten likely depicts a military conflict he witnessed in his travels in Southeast Asia. The figures in the sketch are arranged from left to right. On the left, we see a man with a musket, and the rest of the figures carry shields and swords and appear to be advancing into battle. The sketch might be seen as a visual record of Dutch colonial expansion in the East Indies, the figures a reflection of the violence and exploitation that accompanied it. It is possible the image was used to provide information to other company employees. Historical research is essential to understanding art like this. By studying the archives of the Dutch East India Company, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that shaped this image. We can understand what role art played in colonial projects.