Gezicht op een kampong in Bedagei, Sumatra c. 1890 - 1900

This photograph shows a kampong in Bedagei, Sumatra, and was taken by the firm of Heinrich Ernst & Co. On first viewing, it presents as an ethnographic record of Sumatran life. However, we should also consider that the image was made during the period of Dutch colonial rule. By the late nineteenth century, photography had become a vital tool for colonial administrators and commercial enterprises alike. The three European men in the image are prominently posed and dressed in white, with a careful arrangement of the shot that subtly reinforces a sense of Western superiority. A deeper historical understanding can be gained by consulting archives, colonial records, and the writings of postcolonial scholars. This allows us to see how photography served the needs of colonial power, helping to construct a particular vision of the East that was both exoticizing and subjugating. In this way, the photograph transcends its apparent simplicity, revealing a complex interplay of power, representation, and historical context.