Omslag voor de maskerade van de Delftse studenten, 1857 1857

This is the cover for the Delft student masquerade of 1857, crafted by W. Beets. Note the title which hints at a procession featuring the Sultan of Yogyakarta and characters from the Dutch-Indies Archipelago. The use of ‘Sultan’ and ‘Djokjakarta’ evokes the exotic allure of distant lands, reflecting the European fascination with the Orient. This yearning for the exotic resonates with motifs seen throughout art history, think of Renaissance depictions of faraway lands, or even classical Roman appropriations of Egyptian imagery. Here, it’s linked to Dutch colonialism, and the power dynamics inherent in the representation of colonized peoples. Consider how the image of the ‘Sultan’ here plays into the collective European imagination. The use of costume and masquerade is a deep-rooted cultural phenomenon, allowing the students to playfully, yet problematically, engage with ‘otherness’. This complex act of cultural appropriation reveals much about the psychological landscape of the time. The fascination is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, revealing cultural and historical forces through artistic expression.