Portretten van Chaje Hossein Chan en Souilficaar Chan 1712 - 1744

Wouter Jongman made this print of Chaje Hossein Chan en Souilficaar Chan sometime before 1753. The two men depicted in the image are dressed in traditional clothing, with turbans on their heads and long beards. The style of the print, with its symmetrical composition, clean lines, and detailed rendering of textures, reflects the values of the Enlightenment era in Europe. During this time, there was a growing interest in the scientific observation and classification of the natural world, as well as a desire to understand and document different cultures. The print may have been commissioned as part of a larger project to document the customs and appearance of people from around the world. The Dutch East India Company, which was a major economic and political force in the 18th century, also had a vested interest in gathering information about the people and cultures with which it traded. Understanding the social and institutional context in which this print was made allows us to appreciate its significance as a historical document and a work of art.