Gezicht op de Ankerwerf te Batavia 1744

This etching, "Gezicht op de Ankerwerf te Batavia," was made by Johann Christoph Berndt in the 18th century. At first glance, the scene is dominated by a large body of water where waterfowl are swimming serenely, set against the backdrop of colonial architecture under a sky filled with clouds. Yet, the waterfowl are laden with symbolic weight. Throughout art history, birds appear as symbols of freedom, transition, and the soul's journey. Think of the migratory birds in ancient Egyptian art, embodying the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. In other contexts, they may represent messages from the gods, or the presence of divine spirits. Here, one cannot ignore the psychological undercurrent – a yearning for freedom and perhaps an uneasy tension in this colonial landscape. The image, with its tranquil surface, belies the complexities of the colonial narrative, a silent witness to the interplay of nature, culture, and power. The ducks remain, oblivious, moving through time.