Grafbord van Boudewijn Versewel Faure (1734-70), directeur van Bengalen (1769-70) after 1770

This grafbord, or memorial panel, was created anonymously to commemorate Boudewijn Versewel Faure, who died in Bengal in 1770. Faure’s identity as a director in Bengal under the Dutch East India Company positions him within the complex history of Dutch colonialism and global trade during the 18th century. The panel, with its formal lettering and heraldic imagery, speaks to his status and the values of the Dutch elite. The shield and decorations reflect a desire to create a lasting legacy, embodying the power and reach of the Dutch mercantile class. However, this memorial also raises questions about the human cost of colonialism and the lives impacted by the expansion of global trade. Faure's story is a reminder of the individuals who navigated, and often perished within, the vast networks of empire. While celebrating a life, it also serves as a poignant reflection on the broader historical forces at play.