Kladbrievenboek Jan Brandes (1743-1808) gedurende zijn reis van Batavia, via Ceylon en de Kaap naar Nederland, 1785-1787 1785 - 1787

This page comes from Jan Brandes’ "Waste Letter Book" made between 1785 and 1787. Brandes was a clergyman, artist, and traveler who worked for the Dutch East India Company. These notes are a fragmented record of Brandes's journey from Batavia, now Jakarta, through Ceylon, present-day Sri Lanka, and the Cape, to the Netherlands. Brandes meticulously documented the landscapes, people, and cultures he encountered. The Dutch East India Company was a powerful force that shaped global trade and colonization. Brandes's journey offers a glimpse into the complex dynamics of cultural exchange, commerce, and colonial power during this era. His writings and sketches can be examined for how they may reflect or challenge the prevailing attitudes towards race, class, and gender in the context of colonial encounters. What does it mean to witness such a journey through the eyes of someone who is both an observer and a participant in the colonial project? Brandes's book invites us to consider the human stories embedded within larger historical narratives.