Dimensions: height 81 cm, width 47 cm, depth 47 cm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This is a model of the Duiveneiland lighthouse on Java, made by Gieterij Prins van Oranje. This model transports us to a complex period of Dutch colonial history. The lighthouse itself, built in 1869, stands as a symbol of Dutch presence and control in the region. It also facilitated trade and navigation, which further entrenched colonial power. Consider the identity of those who built and maintained the actual lighthouse versus those who benefited from its existence. The labor of local Javanese workers was essential to its construction and operation, yet they likely experienced little of the economic gain. The model serves as a quiet reminder of the stories of those who were impacted by colonialism. It invites us to reflect on the human cost of progress.
The eight-sided Duiveneiland lighthouse, on the south-west point of Java, comprises five storeys. The entrance is on the first storey. Three sides of the model have been left open to display the interior and stairs. A bell hangs on one side. The lighthouse was built in the Netherlands between 1870 and 1872, then dismantled and shipped to Indonesia where it was reassembled.
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