Antonius Hambroek neemt afscheid van zijn dochters in Fort Zeelandia op Formosa, 1661 1786 - 1788

Jacobus Buys created this drawing, Antonius Hambroek zegt zijn dochters vaarwel in Fort Zeelandia op Formosa, 1661, using pen in gray on paper. It depicts a somber scene from a fraught colonial history. At its center, we see Antonius Hambroek, a Dutch missionary, bidding farewell to his daughters amidst the backdrop of Fort Zeelandia in Formosa, now Taiwan. This moment captures the intersection of faith, family, and colonial power. Hambroek faced a wrenching decision: to abandon his faith or his family. Choosing the former, he allowed his daughters to be taken captive, a choice laden with the complex politics of identity and cultural survival under colonial rule. The emotional weight of this scene is palpable, isn't it? The artist asks us to consider the personal cost of colonial expansion. How does one reconcile the demands of faith, the bonds of family, and the ever-present pressures of colonial authority?