Vase (rolwagen) with a meeting between a warrior and an official in a landscape c. 1635 - 1650

This blue and white rolwagen vase depicts a meeting between a warrior and an official in a landscape, its origin remains anonymous. Vases like these reflect the Dutch East India Company's profound influence on global trade and cultural exchange. The Dutch imported porcelain from China in vast quantities and when the supply was cut off, they began manufacturing their own. The vase’s imagery, which represents a Chinese narrative, is a visual code referencing military power, social hierarchy, and the natural world. We can see the figure of the warrior and the official in the setting of a stylized landscape. Understanding this artwork requires a deep dive into the economic structures, artistic styles, and power dynamics of the period. Examining trade records, company documents, and the biographies of merchants and artisans are crucial. By tracing these social and institutional histories, we gain insight into how global commerce shaped artistic production.