Gezicht op de ruïne van Candi Lara Jonggrang (Prambanan) bij Yogyakarta, Midden-Java 1850

Cornelis Springer created this drawing of the ruined Candi Lara Jonggrang temple complex near Yogyakarta in Central Java, using pen in brown and gray, brush in gray, and pencil. In the 19th century, the Dutch colonial presence in Indonesia shaped artistic representations of the region. Springer, as a European artist, likely approached this landscape with a colonial gaze, framing the ancient ruins through a Western lens. The temple, a sacred site for the local population, becomes a picturesque ruin, an object of aesthetic appreciation rather than a living place of worship. Notice how the detailed rendering contrasts sharply with the indistinct human figures, who are dwarfed by the ruins. This may reflect the power dynamics inherent in the colonial encounter. The drawing invites us to consider how cultural heritage can be viewed and interpreted differently depending on one's position and background. It challenges us to reflect on the emotional distance between the artist and the culture he depicts.