Misverstand, intelligentie, maritieme handel en handel 1768 - 1771

Editor: This engraving by Charles Beurlier, made around 1770, is titled "Misverstand, intelligentie, maritieme handel en handel"—"Misunderstanding, Intelligence, Maritime Trade and Trade." It feels very symbolic. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a visual representation deeply rooted in the political and economic currents of its time. The allegories depicted—intelligence, maritime trade—speak to the values that the burgeoning merchant class wished to project. Consider how maritime trade, in particular, is represented. Editor: There's an anchor and a trident, definitely symbols of the sea, but what about "misunderstanding"? Curator: Precisely. Note how the cherubs at the well, labeled "misintelligence," toil to understand and communicate. What does it tell us about the enlightenment that misunderstanding requires labor? Do these figures reflect on power structures and exploitation? What is obscured by "intelligence?" Editor: So, it’s not just a straightforward celebration of trade, but also a subtle commentary on its complexities and potential pitfalls. Curator: Indeed. It acknowledges, perhaps unintentionally, the exploitation inherent in colonial trade and the intellectual gymnastics required to justify it. What role does that ornamental frame play, literally on top of the difficult work being done by exploited children? Does this frame elevate the entire process, disguising its moral fault lines? Editor: That's a very different reading than what I initially expected. I learned so much. Thanks! Curator: Thank you! This image serves as a great prompt for further inquiry into the ethics of commerce during that period.