Bedrijfspand in aanbouw 1914 - 1919

This photograph shows a Bedrijfspand in aanbouw, or commercial building under construction. The artist is anonymous. The image encapsulates Dutch colonial enterprise, likely in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The half-finished building with its repeating windows and stark geometry contrasts with the tropical foliage in the background. The palm trees, heavy with cultural meaning, frame the building, reminding us of the tension between the colonial project and the existing environment. The image is a visual record of how economic structures associated with global trade were implemented in the region. To understand the dynamics, archival sources such as company records would be helpful. The photograph helps us to consider the social conditions that allowed for this kind of construction, and the politics of development in colonial contexts. The image also reminds us that art and architecture can both be understood as expressions of power.