The Netherlands’ Most Precious Jewel

In this 1916 lithograph, Johan Braakensiek personifies the Dutch East Indies as “The Netherlands’ most precious jewel”, a reference to the archipelago’s nickname, the Emerald Belt. The Dutch Virgin, symbolizing the Netherlands, admires a radiant gem representing Indonesia, reflecting the colonial narrative that portrayed the Indies as a prized possession enriching the empire. Beneath its elegance, the image encapsulates the exploitative and possessive ideology of Dutch colonial rule during the early twentieth century.