Gezicht op de rivier Likame nabij Bogolo 1896

This is Franz Thonner's 'Gezicht op de rivier Likame nabij Bogolo', a photograph of the Likame River near Bogolo. In this image, Thonner invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in landscape photography, particularly within the context of colonialism. As a European artist working in Africa, his gaze is loaded with the weight of imperial history. The scene seems tranquil at first glance, but we must ask ourselves, whose story is being told, and whose is being omitted? The local communities, their histories, and their relationship to the land are subtly erased, replaced by a romanticized vision of the 'untouched' African landscape. By framing the scene in this way, Thonner perpetuates a narrative of European dominance and control. The photograph becomes less about the Likame River itself and more about the act of claiming and representing it. It's a reminder of how deeply intertwined art is with the politics of identity, representation, and power.