Waterval van de rivier Citarum in Lagadar 1900 - 1935

Editor: So, this is "Waterval van de rivier Citarum in Lagadar" by Neville Keasberry, a photograph dating from between 1900 and 1935. It’s quite a stark image, almost like a document. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The stereoscopic format immediately positions the viewer as an explorer, engaging with a land that may have been little known to them. This aesthetic was often exploited by colonial powers. Who held the camera, who framed the image, and for what audience? What narrative does the choice to depict this powerful, untamed water create? Editor: That’s a good point. It feels like it's presenting nature as something to be documented, perhaps even conquered? Curator: Exactly. Consider how photography was used as a tool for cataloging and claiming territories. The "realism" becomes less about pure representation and more about constructing a specific relationship between the viewer and the landscape. Think about whose gaze is privileged here. What does this photograph silence? Editor: So it's not just a landscape, it’s a statement about power dynamics at the time. But then, shouldn’t we also appreciate the beauty of the image itself? Curator: Of course. But understanding the context doesn’t negate beauty, it deepens our understanding of why certain aesthetics were promoted over others. Who benefited from the romanticising or simplifying of another’s landscape? Editor: I see, it adds another layer. I'll never see a historical landscape photo the same way again! Curator: Hopefully, it encourages a more critical engagement. These images carry more than just what's on the surface.