Exterieur van het Paleis van Daendels op het Waterlooplein te Batavia c. 1857 - 1870

This albumen print shows the exterior of the Palace of Daendels on Waterlooplein in Batavia, now Jakarta. It was created by the commercial photography studio Woodbury & Page. The photograph captures a moment in the complex history of Dutch colonialism in Indonesia. Woodbury & Page, as foreign photographers, operated within and benefitted from this colonial structure. While they documented the landscape and architecture, their work also served to reinforce the power dynamics of the time. The Palace itself, with its imposing neoclassical architecture, symbolizes Dutch authority. It maintains traditional representations of power through colonial architecture, yet it also marks an alternative narrative by representing the colonial presence in Batavia. The photograph invites us to consider the layers of history and power embedded in the image and the space it represents. It stands as a reminder of the complexities inherent in the colonial gaze and the enduring impact of colonial structures on identity and place.