Dorp bij rivierbedding aan de voet van een berg op Java c. 1857 - 1870

This albumen print of a village near a riverbed at the foot of a mountain on Java was made by the photographic studio Woodbury & Page. The image invites us to consider the colonial gaze and the representation of the ‘exotic’ East. Woodbury & Page were among the many European photographers who established studios in Southeast Asia during the colonial era. Their photographs catered to the European market, shaping perceptions of the region and its people. This particular image presents an idealised view of Javanese rural life, emphasizing the harmony between the local population and the natural environment. Understanding the photograph requires looking at the institutional and economic context in which it was produced. Who commissioned these images? What purposes did they serve? How were they circulated and consumed? Answering these questions requires archival research into the history of photography, colonialism, and the art market.