Visserij 1868 - 1881

This print, entitled "Visserij," was made by Gualtherus Kolff, and shows scenes of fisheries in the Dutch East Indies. It’s printed on paper, a relatively inexpensive and easily distributed medium, but the lithographic process allows for subtle gradations of color. The choice of subject is interesting from a material perspective. It shows people engaged in various forms of extraction from the natural world, all involving specific tools and techniques: nets for fishing, baskets for oysters, and so on. Note the contrast between the indigenous people shown at work, and the European figures observing and purchasing their harvest. This juxtaposition tells a story about labor, class, and consumption in a colonial context. The print itself, as a mass-produced object, participated in this economic system. By depicting these scenes, Kolff invites us to consider the human effort and unequal power dynamics embedded in even the simplest acts of buying and selling. Ultimately, this work challenges us to consider the political context of all image making.