Kaart van Indonesië, met inzet van Java en Batavia 1873

This is an anonymous map of Indonesia, including Java and Batavia, printed with ink on paper. Cartography has always been a potent form of image-making. Consider what it takes to produce a map like this. The process involves surveying, printing, and distribution - all considerable feats. Note the detailed rendering of place names and topographical features. All of this involved significant work, and a large workforce. Paper itself is a complex material with its own history of manufacture, trade, and use. Think about how the availability of paper influenced the creation of the artwork. And how it made possible its mass distribution. This map is less a window onto the world than a reflection of labor, politics, and consumption. It reminds us of the profound impact of industrial processes on visual culture. It challenges us to broaden our understanding of art history.