Station van de stoomtram te Kota-Radja 1891 - 1894

This photograph of the steam tram station in Kota-Radja was taken by A. Kaulfuss in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s made using the traditional photographic processes of the time, likely involving a glass plate negative and chemical development. The print itself has a tangible presence; you can see its tonal range, the way the light interacts with the paper's surface, and the minute details captured by the lens. This image offers insight into the colonial infrastructure in place at the time, showing not only the train, but also the station and the workers who kept it running. The construction materials of the station, and the production of the train, involved countless hours of labour. Looking closely, we see how the photograph is more than just an image. It's an artifact of a specific time and place, reflecting the technology, labour, and social structures of the era. It blurs the boundaries between documentary and art, inviting us to consider the wider context in which it was created.