Kaart van Japan c. 1658

Editor: Here we have a print titled "Kaart van Japan," or "Map of Japan," dating back to around 1658, crafted through etching and engraving by Johannes Janssonius. What immediately strikes me is the sheer ambition of trying to capture a whole country and its surrounding seas, knowing the limitations they faced back then. It feels almost dreamlike, doesn't it? What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: Dreamlike is the perfect word, I think. It's less a photograph, and more of a painted memory, or even a projection of European desire. Look at the ornate details embellishing the edges, that title cartouche with the figures – it's a performance, really. You have this very specific lens, of a Dutch Golden Age cartographer, encountering Japan, at a moment when encounters were still fraught and filled with speculation. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to hold this map, dreaming of a far away and mysterious land? Editor: That sense of dreaming about a far-off place makes perfect sense, given the context. Do you think the inaccuracies – compared to modern maps – add to that feeling? Curator: Absolutely! The wonky coastline, the strangely shaped islands… it all reinforces that this isn’t about geographic precision. It's about constructing an idea of Japan, filtering it through European eyes. Think about the cultural exchange – or lack thereof! What did the intended audience glean from such an artifact? And what was *lost* in translation, literally and figuratively? Editor: I never thought about it quite like that. I was so focused on judging its accuracy; it’s really more about imagination and cultural perspective, isn't it? Curator: Precisely! We learn less about 17th century Japan perhaps, and much more about 17th century Europe, which in itself is an interesting reflection. I will keep it in my memory!