West-Indisch Huis 1875 - 1923

Willem Witsen made this etching of the West-Indisch Huis in Amsterdam. The West-Indisch Huis, or West India House, served as the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company during the 17th and 18th centuries, which was a key player in the transatlantic slave trade. This building oversaw the transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas and the exploitation of resources in colonized territories. Witsen, who came from a wealthy family with colonial ties, was part of the Dutch Impressionist movement, capturing cityscapes with an emphasis on atmosphere and mood. Here he directs our gaze toward a building that was central to the operations of a company whose wealth was built on human suffering. Consider the emotional weight carried by such a place, a silent witness to the transactions of lives and the erasure of identities. Witsen’s print invites reflection on the complex layers of history embedded in the urban landscape.