Gezicht op Tegepatnam, een Moors kasteel en de Nederlandse loge 1676

Johannes Kip made this print, *Gezicht op Tegepatnam, een Moors kasteel en de Nederlandse loge*, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It is made of ink on paper, a common process at the time for disseminating images widely. The fine lines of the engraving allow for precise detail, essential for capturing the specifics of the ships, the castle, and the Dutch lodge – a trading post established by the Dutch East India Company. The image presents two views of Tegepatnam, now known as Cuddalore, from slightly different angles, emphasizing the Dutch presence on the Coromandel Coast of India. It is from this vantage point that the Dutch could control trade routes. The print’s social significance lies in its depiction of Dutch colonial power. While seemingly a straightforward depiction, the act of engraving itself was labour-intensive, mirroring the extensive human effort required to maintain this global trade network. It's a reminder that images, like goods, are the products of complex economic systems.