Vijver aan de voet van een boom op Java c. 1857 - 1870

This albumen print, titled "Vijver aan de voet van een boom op Java," or "Pond at the foot of a tree in Java", was created by the photographic studio of Woodbury & Page. In the colonial context of 19th-century Java, Woodbury & Page produced images that often served to reinforce European perceptions of the exotic 'other'. This image captures a serene pond set amidst lush Javanese flora. While ostensibly a neutral depiction of nature, it subtly frames the landscape through a colonial lens, reducing it to a picturesque scene for consumption by Western audiences. The choice to focus on the aesthetic qualities of the landscape obscures the social and political realities of the time, where indigenous communities were experiencing profound disruption due to colonial exploitation. The photograph thus operates on multiple levels: it presents a vision of tropical tranquility while simultaneously participating in the broader project of colonial representation. It is a reminder of how photography can be used both to document and to shape perceptions of the world around us.