View of Colombo from the Roadstead c. 1710

Cornelis Steiger rendered this watercolor painting, "View of Colombo from the Roadstead". It offers us a glimpse into the Dutch colonial presence in Sri Lanka. Steiger, like many artists of his time, was implicated in the visual documentation of colonial power. The painting presents a serene, ordered view of Colombo, subtly reinforcing the narrative of European control and dominance. Yet, look closely, and you might start to question the human cost of this so-called progress. What stories lie behind those fortress walls, and who paid the price for this carefully constructed view? As we contemplate Steiger's vision of Colombo, let’s reflect on the complex layers of history, identity, and power that shape our understanding of this place. This image invites us to consider whose perspectives are included and whose are conspicuously absent.