Gezicht op de stad Batavia 1754

This print, "Gezicht op de stad Batavia" – or "View of the City of Batavia" – was made by Robert Sayer in the 18th century, using engraving and etching. What’s striking is the precision of the lines, achieved through the skilled manipulation of metal plates. Sayer would have meticulously cut into the metal, using acid to deepen the lines, and then applied ink to transfer the image onto paper. The process allowed for the creation of multiple identical images, which speaks to the print’s function: to disseminate a particular view of Batavia as a centre of Dutch power in the East Indies. The image shows a carefully ordered city, with its grid-like layout and imposing architecture, which seems to communicate a sense of control and authority. But of course, that control was asserted through colonial exploitation, its effects unseen in this seemingly objective image. Looking at this print, we are reminded that materials, making, and context are all crucial to understanding the full meaning of an artwork.