Rood suikerriet Possibly 1779 - 1787

Jan Brandes created this watercolor drawing of red sugarcane. Brandes was a Dutch clergyman and artist, who documented his travels through the Dutch East Indies in the late 18th century. This image of sugarcane, seemingly benign, offers a glimpse into the complex and often brutal history of colonialism. Sugarcane plantations were a major economic engine for colonial powers, relying on the forced labor of enslaved people. The red sugarcane depicted here is not just a botanical specimen, but a symbol of the exploitation and suffering that fueled the Dutch Empire. The detached, scientific style contrasts sharply with the human cost of sugar production. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which botanical illustrations and other forms of documentation can obscure the violence and injustice of colonial expansion, while also serving as records of a complex history.