Laan met winkels op Java c. 1857 - 1870

Woodbury & Page captured this image of a street on Java using photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. The photograph presents a wide, tree-lined avenue dotted with small shops or stalls. This serene image speaks volumes about the colonial presence in Java. Woodbury & Page were among the first commercial photographers in the Dutch East Indies, catering primarily to a European clientele. Their work often romanticized the exotic East, reinforcing a colonial worldview. The orderliness of the street, the presence of shops, and even the way the light is captured all contribute to a narrative of Dutch influence and control. This is perhaps more revealing of the values of the colonizers than the realities of Javanese life. To truly understand this image, one must delve into the archives of the Dutch East India Company, colonial records, and the writings of the Javanese people themselves, piecing together a more complete picture.