Altijd door Kanonnenvleesch Possibly 1897

Jan Veth created this print, titled "Altijd door Kanonnenvleesch", which translates to "Always more Cannon Fodder", as an illustration for "De Kroniek" in October of 1901. Veth critiques the Dutch colonial project in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The image overlays two distinct cultural and historical contexts to create a powerful statement. In the foreground, Veth depicts a classical scene of suffering and death, reminiscent of a pieta, symbolizing the human cost of war. Behind it, he places a large, impassive figure, a Javanese statue, perhaps representing a local deity or ancestral spirit. This juxtaposition suggests the indifference of colonial powers to the plight of the colonized. The image underscores the dehumanizing effects of colonialism, reducing individuals to mere "cannon fodder" in service of imperial ambitions. To fully appreciate Veth's critique, one should consider the historical context of Dutch colonialism and its impact on Indonesian society. Researching the debates and social movements surrounding colonial policy in the Netherlands at the time would shed further light on the image's meaning.