Basreliëf in de noordzijde van de Borobudur Possibly 1873 - 1879

This photograph by Isidore Kinsbergen shows a bas-relief on the north side of Borobudur, and it speaks volumes about both ancient craft and modern industry. The relief itself is carved from stone, likely volcanic andesite, using tools and techniques passed down through generations of Javanese artisans. Each figure, each lotus petal, meticulously shaped to convey complex narratives. The labor involved in creating such a vast structure, with its intricate carvings, must have been immense, a testament to collective skill and dedication. Yet, here we encounter it through the lens of photography, a technology born of industrialization. Kinsbergen's photograph flattens the three-dimensional relief, transforming it into a reproducible image. This act of documentation makes the relief accessible to a wider audience, but it also changes its nature. It becomes an object of study, a commodity to be consumed. The photograph itself is a product of labor, of chemical processes and mechanical reproduction. By viewing this photograph, we are reminded of the intertwined histories of craft and industry, of tradition and modernity.