Feestmaal voor het Hollandse gezantschap in het paleis, 1667 1668 - 1670

This anonymous engraving depicts a banquet in 17th century China for a Dutch delegation, marking a moment of cultural and political exchange rendered in ink on paper. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations tied to the Dutch East India Company, a powerful entity that shaped global trade in this period. Notice how the artist interprets Chinese architectural and social customs for a European audience. The depiction of the banquet, with its formal arrangement and hierarchical seating, is designed to convey both the exoticism and the order of the Qing Dynasty. Further research into Dutch East India Company archives would reveal the precise nature of these diplomatic exchanges. The image before us serves as a reminder that art provides a window into the complex interplay of cultures and institutions.