Gezicht op zandduinen bij de Sigatokarivier op Viti Levu before 1899

Maximilian Agassiz made this photograph of sand dunes near the Sigatoka River on Viti Levu, Fiji. It's a study in contrasts, depicting the rippling dunes against the more solid landmasses and the hint of coral reefs in the distance. Taken in a colonial context, this image participates in a longer history of representing colonized lands. How did the European gaze shape the way Fiji was seen and understood? What role did photography play in constructing and disseminating these visions? The image appears as Plate 44 in a book called "Fiji Islands and Coral Reefs," suggesting an interest in cataloging and documenting the natural features of the islands. Consider the power dynamics at play: who gets to represent whom, and for what purposes? To understand this image more fully, one might consult colonial archives, travelogues, and the writings of Fijian scholars to gain a more nuanced understanding. It reminds us that the meaning of art is always shaped by the social and institutional conditions in which it is created and viewed.