Gezicht op de kust van Groot-Atjeh, met voor de kust de vloot van de Eerste Atjeh-expeditie, vierde deel 1873

This print, "View of the Coast of Greater Aceh," was created by C.A. Whitten. Its subdued palette and meticulous detail come from a combination of printing and hand-coloring. Consider the paper itself, likely mass-produced, and the printing process, allowing for widespread distribution. This wasn't a unique, handcrafted object in the traditional sense. Instead, it was a product of its time, reflecting the rise of industrialization and the increasing availability of visual information. The subtle hand-coloring adds a layer of value, but doesn't disguise the print's origins in reproduction. The image depicts the Dutch fleet during the First Aceh Expedition, a military campaign to colonize the region. The very act of creating and disseminating this image was part of the colonial project, a way to document and celebrate Dutch power. Looking closely at the print, we can see how its materials and methods are intertwined with social and political forces. It is a reminder that art is never truly separate from the world in which it is made.