Reproductie van een landkaart van de omgeving van Thailand before 1895

Editor: This is a reproduction of a map of the Thailand area, before 1895, attributed to Michel Berthaud. It's an engraving and it strikes me as a very deliberate representation of the region, but also somewhat… fanciful, especially with the decorative elements like the elephants. What kind of imagery stands out to you in this work? Curator: The enduring image here is, of course, Siam itself, rendered with such careful detail, nestled between these symbolic bodies of water, the ‘Mer des Indes’. Consider how a map isn’t just geography; it's a declaration, a way of claiming knowledge, control, and even…fantasy. Look at the inclusion of animals. Editor: The elephants near "Siam," right? Is there a reason for placing them there? Curator: Precisely. Animals are potent symbols. In this context, elephants likely served not merely to depict wildlife, but as a stand-in, metonymically, for the kingdom’s power, its wealth, its very identity in the eyes of the world. Their placement is no accident. They’re visually asserting a kind of dominance or cultural signature. Does the inclusion of sailing ships alter your thinking about the map? Editor: Yes, they suggest trade, exploration, colonialism, all these intersecting narratives... So much is communicated by these symbols, layered together. Curator: Exactly! We interpret these symbols through a filter informed by time and historical circumstances. Maps as symbolic landscapes, layered with meaning… it truly provides much to consider. Editor: I will never see maps in the same way after our chat; it definitely changed my view of such artwork. Thank you!