Candi Sembadra, general view of the northeast side. Possibly 1864 - 1867

Isidore Kinsbergen made this photograph of Candi Sembadra, using the wet collodion process, a technique that was cutting-edge at the time. Look closely, and you will see how the image highlights the temple's construction: rough-hewn blocks carefully fitted together. The marks of the stonecutter are clearly visible. This speaks to the immense labor involved in creating such a structure. Consider, too, the social context. Kinsbergen, a Dutch photographer, documented ancient sites in the Dutch East Indies. His work reflects the colonial gaze, capturing the grandeur of a past civilization, while also emphasizing the decay and neglect. We can imagine local populations, with their own history and traditions, perhaps employed in the work of excavation and documentation. This photograph is not just a record; it's a document of cultural encounter, of labor, and of the complex relationship between the past and the present. By looking at the material details of both the temple and the photograph, we gain a richer understanding of its history.