Chinese man making an offering c. 1660

Wouter Schouten created this drawing, titled 'Chinese man making an offering', using pen and gray ink. Schouten worked for the Dutch East India Company as a surgeon, allowing him to travel extensively. This work captures a moment of cultural exchange, filtering the artist's observations through the lens of his own cultural background and the interests of the company. The scene depicts a figure performing a religious ceremony; the offering table is laden with candles and food. The figure appears serene, however, the presence of the Western gaze cannot be ignored. Schouten’s work reflects the complex dynamic of trade, exploration, and the construction of the ‘Other’ that shaped this historical period. Consider how Schouten's drawing captures a specific moment in time. The artist presents an image that is part observation, part interpretation, and part colonial encounter. It invites us to think about the power dynamics embedded in acts of representation and the selective ways in which cultures perceive one another.