Gamelanorkest bij Wajang koelit 1860 - 1870

This albumen print shows a gamelan orchestra accompanying a Wayang kulit performance. The photograph, created by Woodbury & Page, offers a glimpse into 19th-century Java, then part of the Dutch East Indies. Here, the colonial gaze intersects with local cultural practices. The photograph becomes a document of power dynamics, where the exoticized East is captured and consumed by the West. The image presents an intricate interplay of light and shadow. This emphasizes the visual codes of Javanese culture: the gamelan's role in ritual, and the Wayang kulit's storytelling tradition. In Java, these performances often served as a form of social commentary, subtly critiquing those in power. By examining colonial archives, travelogues, and studies of Javanese culture, we can begin to unpack the complex layers of meaning embedded within this photograph, revealing its role in shaping perceptions of Southeast Asia.