Tafereelen uit de regering van Willem I, koning der Nederlanden, groothertog van Luxemburg, enz. enz. 1850 - 1881

Dirk Noothoven van Goor created this print, "Scenes from the Reign of William I, King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, etc. etc.," as part of a series called "Picture Magazine for Youth: National History." This work encapsulates early 19th-century Dutch national identity and colonialism. The series aimed to teach young people about their nation's history. We see depictions of King William I's inauguration, military actions, and events like the 1825 storm surge. The print titled "Subjugation of Digo Negro by General De Kock, 1830," is particularly striking. It depicts the subjugation of a Black community in Indonesia by Dutch colonial forces, representing power dynamics and colonial violence. How does Noothoven van Goor’s work perpetuate a narrative of Dutch superiority, glossing over the violence and exploitation inherent in colonialism? This print encourages us to consider the relationship between national pride, historical narratives, and the representation of colonial power.