Rivier met waterval en Javanen op stenen c. 1857 - 1870

This photograph titled 'River with waterfall and Javanese on stones' was taken by the studio Woodbury & Page. Through their placement of the Javanese people within the frame of a lush landscape, Woodbury & Page invites us to consider the relationship between the colonized and the colonizer. The figures appear small, almost incidental, against the backdrop of the overwhelming natural landscape, highlighting the complex dynamics of power and representation during the colonial era. It is impossible to ignore how this photograph flattens the identity and individuality of these people into mere props in a tableau designed for Western consumption. What resonates most is the disquieting contrast between the romanticized view of nature and the lived experiences of the people who were part of it. The photograph leaves one with a sense of longing for a more equitable representation, a deeper understanding of the subjects.