Landschap, Java c. 1816 - 1846

Adrianus Johannes Bik created this landscape of Java with a pencil on paper. Bik was born in the Netherlands, and his work reflects the Dutch colonial presence in Java, now part of Indonesia. The drawing captures a serene view of the Javanese landscape. But this tranquility belies a complex history of colonial power and cultural exchange. During Bik’s time, the Dutch East India Company exerted significant control over the region, exploiting its resources and people. The drawing invites us to reflect on the artist's perspective as a European in a colonized land, and the power dynamics inherent in such a position. While seemingly a straightforward landscape, the drawing prompts us to consider whose stories are told and whose are omitted. How does Bik’s depiction of Java reflect, or perhaps obscure, the realities of life under colonial rule? It reminds us that landscapes are not neutral; they carry the weight of history and the imprints of human experience.