Profielen van eilanden getekend op de reis van Ceylon naar Batavia - Pieter de Bevere

A technical maritime drawing from 1757, documenting the coastal profiles of islands between Ceylon and Batavia for navigational use.

This work by Pieter de Bevere documents the maritime observations made during a voyage from Ceylon to Batavia in 1757. As a draughtsman and naturalist, de Bevere was tasked with recording the visual characteristics of the coastline and islands encountered by the Dutch East India Company vessels. The drawing functions as a navigational aid, providing sailors with recognisable silhouettes of landmasses to assist in determining their position at sea.

The composition is divided into horizontal registers, each presenting a specific island or coastal profile. De Bevere employs a restrained palette of muted blue washes to differentiate the land from the sea, while fine ink lines define the topography of the peaks and ridges. The annotations, written in Dutch, provide precise details regarding the compass bearings and distances from the ship, reflecting the practical, scientific purpose of the document.

Unlike artistic depictions intended for aesthetic display, this drawing prioritises clarity and accuracy. The silhouettes are rendered with a focus on the distinctive shapes of the islands, such as Engano and the coast of Sumatra. The work offers a glimpse into the methods of eighteenth-century maritime exploration, where visual documentation was essential for the safety and success of long-distance trade routes. The minimalist approach and the emphasis on geographic data make this a compelling example of technical illustration from the colonial era. It serves as a record of the physical world as perceived by those navigating the Indian Ocean, stripped of ornamentation to ensure the information remains legible for the mariner.