Gezicht te Cibodas met twee mangobomen, West-Java c. 1816 - 1846

This pencil drawing shows a view in Cibodas, West Java, and was made by Adrianus Johannes Bik. In the nineteenth century, the Dutch presence in Java was growing, and with it a need to represent and survey the natural resources of the island. While Bik’s picture ostensibly depicts a tranquil scene, it's also a document of colonial expansion. The careful rendering of the mango trees, labeled in the sketch, suggests a scientific interest, an attempt to classify and catalogue the natural world for European viewers. The drawing would likely have served to illustrate publications, or to act as a guide for prospective settlers and investors. The Rijksmuseum itself, where this drawing is now housed, was founded during this period. Institutions like this helped to shape a sense of Dutch national identity. By studying images like this, and considering where they were made, by whom, and for what purpose, we can better understand the complex social and political context that shaped their creation.