Goudzoekers in Australië, een Australisch meisje met haar broertje, een zendingspost op Nieuw-Zeeland en een bisschop op een slee

This print by J. Johnston presents scenes from Australia and New Zealand, offering a window into 19th-century colonial narratives. The image invites us to consider the social conditions that shape artistic production. The gold miners in Australia, the indigenous mother and child and the missionary post in New Zealand reflect different facets of colonial life. The scenes romanticize colonial expansion, portraying the landscape as a source of wealth and opportunity. However, it also represents the encounters between colonizers and indigenous populations which were often fraught with conflict and exploitation. As a historian, understanding this image requires delving into the archives. We must examine missionary records, colonial government documents, and indigenous accounts to uncover the complex layers of power and resistance. Art serves as a vital tool for understanding the social and institutional context of its time.