Landlieden van achter Bantam, 1596 1597 - 1646

This anonymous engraving from 1596 shows us "Landlieden van achter Bantam," or countrymen from behind Bantam. It offers a glimpse into the social and economic context of early Dutch engagement with Indonesia. The image depicts two figures carrying goods, likely agricultural products, a scene referencing the Dutch presence in Bantam, a key trading port in West Java. Visual codes such as clothing and posture create meaning. The relative affluence of the figure on the left, compared to the figure on the right, speaks to hierarchies within the local population, and perhaps also between local people and colonizers. Historical associations with the Dutch East India Company are also relevant. The Company was a key player in shaping the social conditions of artistic production. Understanding this artwork requires archival research into Dutch colonial history, trade records, and ethnographic accounts to understand the complex interplay of power, commerce, and cultural exchange.