Java, het voornaamste eiland der Nederlandsche bezittingen in Azië. - 10,000,000 inwoners 1850 - 1881

Dirk Noothoven van Goor created this print of Java, the main island of the Dutch possessions in Asia, for a youth magazine. It’s difficult to ignore the dual purpose of this colorful print—to educate young minds and to normalize Dutch colonial rule. Notice how the map flattens the landscape and people into an easily digestible image, while the illustrations romanticize the natural beauty and architectural achievements of the Dutch East Indies. The population is listed as 10 million. But how are those millions perceived by the Dutch colonizers? This image reflects a common European perspective during that period. Places like Java were seen as exotic, resource-rich territories ripe for exploitation. The cool detachment of the map combined with the idyllic scenes, distances us from the violence and oppression inherent in colonial projects. This print serves as a potent reminder of how images can normalize and perpetuate unequal power dynamics.