Gezicht op de vulkanen Gedé en Pangrango, weg Cianjur-Cipanas en buitenverblijf van de gouverneur-generaal te Cipanas, Priangan, West-Java 1845

Adrianus Johannes Bik produced this watercolor and pencil landscape of West Java in 1818. It depicts the volcanic landscape and country residence of the Governor-General, offering a glimpse into the colonial presence in the Dutch East Indies. The image uses visual codes to establish a sense of order and control. The road, acting as a strong central axis, leads the eye towards the distant volcanoes. This composition subtly implies the dominance of the Dutch colonial power over the natural landscape. The residence symbolizes the institutional presence of the Dutch government. This stands in contrast to the volcanoes and local housing that reflect Indonesia’s geography and culture. During this period, landscape art served as a tool for asserting claims over territory. Bik's work invites us to consider the social conditions that enabled the production and consumption of such images. Further study into the colonial archives and travel accounts of the time might reveal more about the relationship between art, power, and the representation of the East Indies.