Basreliëf op het pendopo voetstuk aan de zuidzijde van Candi Panataran. Possibly 1867

Curator: Here we have a photograph taken possibly in 1867 by Isidore Kinsbergen. It depicts a bas-relief on the pendopo pedestal located on the south side of Candi Panataran. Editor: It’s the texture that first strikes me. That rough, weathered stone juxtaposed with the delicate carving, all captured in the stark contrast of this early photographic print… Curator: Indeed, the photograph documents the narrative reliefs at Panataran, a significant temple complex in East Java, Indonesia. Built over several centuries, its history is closely tied to the politics and culture of the Javanese kingdoms. Kinsbergen’s work serves as an invaluable record. Editor: The figures are fascinating. Look at the composition – the way the artist uses the shallow space to tell stories, like a continuous frieze, almost like reading. There’s a definite rhythm established by the repeated figures and foliage. Curator: These reliefs depict scenes from various Javanese stories, particularly episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. Considering the era in which Kinsbergen took this picture, such documentation also played a part in constructing colonial knowledge about Indonesian culture and heritage. Editor: You can almost feel the weight of history in that stone. And think about the artist—patiently chiseling away, creating those elegant forms. I’m also struck by the interplay of light and shadow which models each individual figure. It creates a dramatic intensity. Curator: It's also a fascinating case study in preservation and representation, a glimpse into the debates and concerns surrounding cultural heritage during the colonial era. Editor: Seeing the work broken down like this does underscore its materiality and presence. Curator: Exactly. Kinsbergen’s image brings both the artistry and its cultural context to light. Editor: A striking work, capturing both artistry and time's passage with a play of light and shadow.