Handelaren 1868 - 1881

Gualtherus Kolff created this print, titled "Handelaren," as part of a series of Dutch-Indische Prenten, or Dutch-Indies prints. These prints were meant for the education of children and parents. This work offers us a glimpse into the complex dynamic between the colonizer and the colonized within the Dutch East Indies. Kolff highlights the labor of local merchants, depicting them selling various goods from fruit and vegetables to birds and cooked foods. The scenes are framed by the artist's apparent focus on the economic activities of the local population. Each panel encapsulates a story of commerce, yet simultaneously reveals the racial and class hierarchies inherent in colonial society. These images, intended for education, also served to reinforce cultural stereotypes and power structures. Kolff's work invites us to consider the dual role of art as both a mirror reflecting societal norms and a tool shaping cultural perceptions, revealing the subtle yet pervasive influence of colonialism on identity and representation.