Krijgsraad te Bantam, 1596 1597 - 1646

This engraving, "Krijgsraad te Bantam, 1596," made by an anonymous artist, captures a scene in Bantam with a remarkable emphasis on structure and composition. The arrangement of the figures into a circular form creates a sense of unity and containment. This is juxtaposed against the more linear structure of the buildings in the background. The artist has used the trees on either side to frame the gathering, drawing our eye to the central event. This structured arrangement may evoke an emotional response by conveying a sense of order in what was, for the Dutch, a foreign and perhaps chaotic world. The ordered arrangement of the artwork might be interpreted through the semiotic lens as a representation of power and control. The structured lines, shapes, and forms are not merely aesthetic choices but function as visual codes, suggesting a Dutch effort to impose a sense of order on a new cultural landscape. This highlights the relationship between form and ideology in the artistic representation of colonial encounters.