Batoe Toelis bij Buitenzorg 1863 - 1869

This photograph, titled 'Batoe Toelis bij Buitenzorg,' was created in present-day Indonesia by Woodbury & Page, using the wet collodion process. This photographic technique, popular in the mid-19th century, involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive emulsion, then exposing and developing it while still wet. The process is demanding, requiring portable darkrooms and a skilled hand. The resulting image captures not only the lush landscape but also the labor and technology involved in its creation. Consider the social context: photography at this time was often linked to colonial expansion, used to document and classify distant lands and people. The sharp details and tonal range of the collodion print provided a seemingly objective view, but one always filtered through the lens of the photographer and the interests of their audience. By recognizing the material and the means of production, we can consider the layers of meaning embedded within this photograph, inviting us to think critically about its role in shaping perceptions of place and culture.