Weg voor Sindanglaja 1863 - 1869

Woodbury & Page, a photography studio, captured this albumen print titled ‘Weg voor Sindanglaja’. The image presents a road leading to Sindanglaja, Indonesia, during a time of Dutch colonial rule. Roads like this weren't just pathways; they were arteries of colonial power, facilitating the movement of resources and control. Consider the absence of people in the frame. It's as if the land is emptied, ready to be filled with colonial ambitions. What stories are not being told? Whose voices are missing from this seemingly tranquil scene? The indigenous populations who lived on and traveled these routes were no doubt affected by colonial projects. 'Weg voor Sindanglaja' invites us to reflect on the complexities of colonial history and its lasting impacts on identity, culture, and place. It leaves us to meditate on the layers of history embedded in this photograph.