Kaneel, nootmuskaat, kruidnagel en bamboe 1682 - 1733

Editor: This is "Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove and Bamboo" by Romeyn de Hooghe, made sometime between 1682 and 1733. It's an engraving in ink. It gives off this vibe of industriousness amidst a volatile landscape… I'm really curious about what was going on when this piece was made. What do you see in it? Curator: What I see is a stark portrayal of the Dutch East India Company's exploitation. Look closely at how de Hooghe juxtaposes the careful harvesting and processing of spices on one side with the imposing volcano, a symbol of both the land's fertility and its potential for violent upheaval, on the other. Editor: The volcano really brings out a sense of tension... Curator: Exactly. And notice how the indigenous people are depicted? They are shown laboring, seemingly without agency, within this landscape. The very act of cataloging these resources, "cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and bamboo," transforms the land and its people into commodities for European consumption. De Hooghe wasn’t merely creating a botanical illustration; he was documenting a system of power. Editor: So the drawing becomes evidence, in a way, of that colonial relationship. How does the bamboo fit in? It seems a little out of place among the spices. Curator: That is astute of you to observe! The inclusion of bamboo, a versatile resource, broadens the scope of Dutch economic interest beyond just spices. Bamboo represents another facet of the colonial project: the appropriation of diverse natural resources to fuel European markets and power. Ask yourself: who profits from this arrangement? Who bears the risk? Editor: It definitely makes you consider the cost of spices and who paid it... Curator: Precisely! It prompts us to critically examine the legacy of colonialism and its enduring impact on global economies and social structures. I now see the artwork not just as an image, but as a challenge of the power imbalance. Editor: I never thought about botanical drawings having that kind of hidden political messaging, very interesting.