Laan met bomen 1886

Kassian Céphas created this albumen print, ‘Laan met bomen’ or ‘Lane with Trees’, in Java in the late nineteenth century. The photograph depicts a tree-lined avenue, flanked by houses, and invites questions about the social and cultural context in which it was made. Céphas, a Javanese photographer, worked at a time when the Dutch East Indies were under colonial rule. Photography, then a relatively new technology, played a role in shaping perceptions of the colony. Images like this one could reinforce the idea of a well-ordered, civilized society under European influence. Yet, as a local photographer, Céphas's perspective might also offer a subtle commentary on the colonial landscape. To fully understand this image, we need to consider the history of Dutch colonialism in Java, the development of photography as a tool of representation, and the social dynamics of the time. Researching archives, colonial records, and the history of photography in Southeast Asia could reveal more about the complex relationship between art, power, and identity in this context.