Z.M. Stoomschip Celebes in gevecht met een kotta-mara. Poeloe Kanamit, 6 Augustus 1859 1865 - 1867

This print by weduwe Elias Spanier & Zn depicts the Z.M. Stoomschip Celebes in combat with a kotta-mara on Poeloe Kanamit in 1859. It encapsulates the complex history of Dutch colonialism in the East Indies. Produced in the Netherlands, the image romanticizes Dutch naval power against the backdrop of a lush Indonesian landscape. The steamship, bearing the Dutch flag, represents the technological and military superiority wielded by European powers at the time. The kotta-mara, a local vessel, is shown being destroyed, symbolizing the suppression of indigenous resistance to colonial rule. This image functions as propaganda, reinforcing the narrative of Dutch dominance and the supposed benefits of their presence in the region. Understanding this artwork requires critical engagement with the historical archives, colonial records, and indigenous accounts to reveal a fuller picture of this unequal encounter.