Aquaducten 1934

This photograph, simply titled 'Aquaducten', was taken at an unknown date by an anonymous photographer. This image of an aqueduct, probably in the Dutch East Indies, raises questions about technology, labor, and colonialism. The aqueduct itself appears as a symbol of progress, engineering skill, and infrastructure development. However, it also speaks to the economic exploitation of the Indies. Who built it? Who benefited from it? The lack of a named photographer further complicates the meaning. Was the photographer Dutch? Javanese? What was their relationship to Dutch colonialism? To fully understand the image, one must research the institutional and social context, including records of colonial infrastructure projects, economic data, and the personal accounts of laborers. By delving into these resources, we can better understand the complex historical forces represented in this image.