Gezicht op een haven van Viti Levu before 1899

Maximilian Agassiz captured this view of a harbor in Viti Levu, Fiji, in a black and white photograph. The image offers us a window into a period of colonial encounter and exchange. Agassiz was part of an elite family, and his gaze would have been informed by the scientific and exploratory missions that were characteristic of that era. The photograph presents a tranquil scene. Yet, it also subtly speaks to the complicated history of Fiji, marked by both the allure of the exotic and the imposition of foreign powers. This photograph is not merely a depiction of a landscape, it is a cultural artifact. It encapsulates a specific moment in time that invites us to reflect on the intersections of power, representation, and identity. The image serves as a reminder of the diverse ways in which different cultures and places have been perceived and documented, and it prompts us to consider the perspectives that may have been marginalized or overlooked in these historical accounts.