Gezicht op de stad Paramaribo 1772

Frederik Jägerschiöld’s ‘View of the City of Paramaribo’ is rendered in delicate watercolor on paper. The choice of watercolor lends itself to the atmospheric perspective, with soft gradations suggesting the humid air of the Surinamese coast. But beyond aesthetics, the material itself – paper – speaks volumes. In an era of burgeoning global trade, paper was essential for record-keeping, correspondence, and, of course, for creating images like this one to send back home. Note the precision of the ships’ rigging and the architectural details rendered with fine brushstrokes. This level of detail suggests not just artistic skill, but also the intense labor involved in constructing and maintaining these vessels, as well as the built environment of Paramaribo itself. The image is a record of globalism, made possible by the very materials used to create it, reminding us that art, like all objects, is deeply embedded in social and economic contexts.