Basreliëf in de muur aan de noordzijde van de Borobudur Possibly 1873 - 1879

Editor: We’re looking at a photograph by Isidore Kinsbergen, likely taken between 1873 and 1879, capturing a bas-relief on the north side of Borobudur. It’s quite striking; a monochrome image displaying an intricate carving, with narrative scenes unfolding. I’m curious, what strikes you most when you look at this image? Curator: The weight of time, certainly. To see the Borobudur, a monument constructed perhaps 12 centuries ago, filtered through Kinsbergen’s 19th-century lens… it's history observing history, you know? I can almost smell the humidity of Java, feel the sun beating down on the stone. Look closely at the composition, how Kinsbergen frames not just the carvings but the texture of the stone itself. Does it make you wonder about the stories these carvings whisper? Editor: Absolutely. There's a definite contrast between the structured procession at the top and the more intimate, almost domestic scene below. Curator: Exactly. Consider the narrative itself. Are these everyday occurrences or symbolic depictions? Think about Borobudur as a three-dimensional mandala; these carvings served as guides for pilgrims ascending towards enlightenment. Can you imagine the devotion, the hours of labor etched into every line and curve? It’s amazing! Editor: Now that you mention the setting, the stone texture and how it tells a story of history that all starts to come alive. I hadn't really considered the scale, nor the labour involved in crafting this image. Curator: And it makes you think, doesn't it? About impermanence, about the stories we choose to preserve and how we choose to preserve them. Editor: Definitely food for thought, seeing layers of history intertwined in a single image. It changes my perspective. Curator: It's all about seeing, isn’t it? Looking beyond the surface, letting the artwork…well, it gets under your skin, I think.