Twee groepen figuren c. 1660

Wouter Schouten created this pen and ink drawing titled “Two Groups of Figures” sometime in the late 17th century. The sketch shows two sets of figures who appear to be from Southeast Asia, which is where Schouten spent much of his adult life working for the Dutch East India Company. It depicts the kind of scenes Schouten would have observed in his travels as a surgeon. At this time, the Dutch East India Company was focused on expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, and drawings like these would have been very popular among Europeans back home. The image creates meaning through its depictions of what Europeans would have seen as exotic people engaged in foreign activities. It’s important to remember that during this time, many Europeans held racist ideas about other cultures. When we look at art, it’s important to remember that history is always present in the art itself, as well as in the person who is interpreting it. Studying the history of Dutch colonialism, for instance, can help us better understand artworks like this one.