Gezicht op de SS Salatiga 1887 - 1902

This is a stereoscopic image of the SS Salatiga, created by Sophia Herz in Amsterdam. It was the era of steamships connecting Europe to its colonial empires, a symbol of progress for some, and a tool of oppression for others. Herz, as a woman entrepreneur running a Stereoscopen-Gallerie, navigated a male-dominated business world. Her lens captures not just a ship, but also the complex intersection of trade, colonialism, and technological advancement that defined the era. Stereoscopic images provided an immersive experience, bringing distant lands and modern marvels into the parlors of Europeans. The SS Salatiga would have carried goods, mail, and people. This included colonizers, administrators, and settlers, as well as those who were being colonized. As you look at the image, consider the stories it doesn't tell. Think about whose perspectives are missing, and how images can be complicit in larger systems of power. Herz’s work is a reminder that even seemingly objective representations are embedded in social, political, and economic contexts.