Marine Hotel te Batavia 1868 - 1872

Woodbury & Page made this albumen print of the Marine Hotel in Batavia, now Jakarta, in colonial Indonesia. The image captures a moment of leisure and commerce amidst the backdrop of Dutch colonial rule. The photograph presents a carefully composed view of the hotel's facade, with local people seated outside, shaded by a large tree. The architecture is distinctly European in style, a visual marker of colonial presence and power. The hotel itself served as a key institution, facilitating trade and travel for Europeans in the region, thereby solidifying economic and political control. Photographs like this one offer a window into the complex social dynamics of the time. By studying archival materials, travel logs, and colonial records, we can better understand how images like this one reflect and reinforce the power structures of colonial society. Ultimately, this photograph is a valuable document for understanding the intertwined histories of colonialism, commerce, and representation.